Top 13 Excel Interview Questions & Answers

The most used spreadsheet program is Microsoft Excel. Every expert working in a big or medium-sized business nowadays uses this program because of its powerful analytical and mathematical features.

Microsoft Excel has come a long way since it was first released in 1985, and it continues to improve with quarterly upgrades. It has a vast and dedicated audience, making it one of the most popular apps of all time.

Multiple interviews require or strongly suggest that candidates be good with Microsoft Excel, so it pays to have a solid grasp of the program and how to utilize it effectively.

Top 13 Excel Interview Questions & Answers

Listed below are some potential Microsoft Excel interview questions that might come up during a job search:

• How do you define Microsoft Excel?

Microsoft introduced this program in 1985 as an electronic spreadsheet application. Spreadsheets are a popular tool for this since they allow users to organize and manipulate data in rows and columns with the use of functions and formulas.

It’s a time-saving universal program since it works with different databases.

• What are cells?

A cell on a worksheet is the intersection of a row and a column. A cell is one of the rectangular places in an Excel sheet that may be used to enter information. There are about 17,17,98,69,184 Arab cells in one worksheet (10,48,576 rows by 16,384 columns).

• Can you Tell me about a spreadsheet?

Spreadsheets, commonly called “worksheets,” are a kind of electronic file used for organizing and displaying data in tabular form. Multiple sheets may be included in a single workbook.

Worksheets may be given a name to identify them while looking for specific data. These could be seen at the sheet’s hem. A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Microsoft Excel

• How Do You Define a Cell Address?

Cell addresses and cell numbers relate to the letter of the column number and the number of the row acquired when you click a random cell in the worksheet.

• To what extent can I customize the spreadsheet?

Simply add the cell by right-clicking the location you want it to go, and the corresponding dialogue box will appear.

Select the Insert option in this dialogue box to bring up a new dialogue box where you may choose how you’d like to add the cell, and then confirm your selection by clicking OK.

• How do we do cell formatting in Microsoft Excel?

By right-clicking on a cell, the user is presented with a list of formatting options from which to choose. Like the one seen in this photo.

Selecting “Format Cells” from the menu’s drop-down will bring up a dialogue box similar to the one seen below.

The ‘Number’ tab provides the initial set of formatting choices, enabling the user to present numbers in a variety of distinct formats (currency, date/time, percentage, fraction, etc.).

The second menu is labelled “Alignment,” and it lets the user do tasks like aligning text, controlling its size, and even switching the direction in which it was written.

The “Font” menu selection comes up next.

It allows the user to choose the font used for screen display and the default for printed material.

Click on the ‘Border’ tab that appears.

https://youtu.be/Ih1OxckSWw4?si=mvuIyyn7AdXDVVsz

Allows the user to alter the appearance of the cell boundaries by altering their Color, changing their shape, or even removing them entirely.

Input values into the ‘Fill’ field.

Allows for the use of a wide variety of fonts, colours, and styles with which to fill in the cells.

Last but not least, the ‘Protection’ option enables the user to conceal or lock a specified cell.

• Describe whether a user may make comments to a cell and how?

Selecting a cell and then right-clicking on it to reveal a menu, as seen in the image below, allows the user to make comments to that cell.

All recipients of the shared file would be able to see the comments.

• How can a person insert new rows and columns into a table?

The process is identical to adding a single cell by right-clicking the target area and selecting the appropriate menu item, except instead of a single cell, the user may choose to insert a whole row or column.

• When using Microsoft Excel, what is a ribbon used for?

The ribbon, which is located at the top of each spreadsheet, is the most crucial tool in your toolbox while working with data in MS Excel.

The Ribbon provides quick access to a variety of MS Excel functions that improve data management, organization, and visualization.

The ribbon’s tabs let you arrange its contents in a way that best suits your needs. Here are some screenshots demonstrating the ribbon’s functionality:

• How and why may a user freeze a window in Microsoft Excel?

The capability of freezing panes in MS Excel enables the user to keep heads of rows and columns visible even while scrolling deep in an excel sheet, either vertically down or horizontally sideways. How to Put MS Excel Panes on Ice

To freeze data, the user must first choose certain rows and columns to do so for.
From the “View” tab’s ribbon, choose the arrow next to the “Freeze Panes” option and
Pick one of the three shown in the illustration below Q11.

Microsoft Excel: How can I ‘wrap text’?
After choosing the cell in which the wrapping should occur, the user may access the ‘Wrap text’ option from the home tab, as seen in the first I’m the age of the following series.

• What measures can a user take to safeguard their information from being duplicated?

Follow these procedures to prevent users from copying information from the shared spreadsheet:

• Choose ‘Review’ from the Excel ribbon’s drop-down menu.
• The ‘Protect Sheet’ option should be selected.
• Select the actions that the spreadsheet’s user is authorized to do.
• This is the password box enter the password and click OK. Describe what MS Excel charts are and how to use them.

MS Excel facilitates the use of graphical representations of data via the creation of charts and graphs. Different types of charts may be used to make even the most complicated data sets more easily digestible.

This function may be accessible by navigating to the ‘Insert’ tab of the ribbon and picking the style of the chart the user intends to show the data. Similarly, see the example below:

The data will be shown in a chart style similar to the one shown below after the user selects the desired chart type and clicks “OK.”

• What is the quickest way to add up values in a row or column of numbers?

As seen in the screenshots below, the user may access this function by selecting it from the ‘Home’ tab on the editing ribbon.

• Is there a way to standardize the look of all the pages in a workbook?

A user would need to take the following actions in order to apply the same format to all of the sheets in a workbook:

• Select the sheet name and right-click.
• If you modify the format of one sheet, it will automatically update the rest of them, as seen in the screenshot below.

How to Prepare yourself for The Interview

Other than that, here are some tips for being ready for Excel-related interview questions:

Take an Excel training. Online Excel classes are common, and some even provide certification upon successful completion. Take an advanced Excel course and brush up on your skills if the position you’re looking for requires them.

If you want to demonstrate prospective employers that you’ve acquired a specific level of proficiency with the software, enrolling in a course that issues a certificate at the end is a fantastic choice.

Make to-do lists and stick to them. One strategy to rehearse for an interview is to brush up on your abilities and assist yourself to come up with an assignment and finish it in Excel.

Creating a budgeting spreadsheet, for instance, is a great way to improve your financial health and your Excel skills at the same time.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, mastering Microsoft Excel is an invaluable skill that not only enhances your productivity but also greatly improves your marketability in the job market.

By familiarizing yourself with its extensive range of functions—from basic data entry and formatting to advanced data analysis and visualization—users can unlock the full potential of this powerful tool.

Whether you’re preparing for an interview, managing complex data sets, or simply looking to streamline your daily tasks, the proficiency in Excel can serve as a fundamental building block to achieving your professional goals.

Remember, regular practice and exploration of new features are key to becoming adept at using Excel, ensuring you remain adaptable and efficient in any task that comes your way.