Excel knowledge for Finance jobs?

[vipon]

I was wondering what are the general expectations for excel formulas/applications at interviews when it comes toentry level finance jobs. Most jobs do not take your word on your knowledge and ask specific questions now.

So far I have compiled:
vlook up
pivot tables
PV, FV, NPV

Things that would classify me beyond "beginner" status

[DcifrThs]

[ QUOTE ]
I was wondering what are the general expectations for excel formulas/applications at interviews when it comes toentry level finance jobs. Most jobs do not take your word on your knowledge and ask specific questions now.

So far I have compiled:
vlook up
pivot tables
PV, FV, NPV

Things that would classify me beyond "beginner" status

[/ QUOTE ]

what is your education? did you take finance/economics courses in college? id be more concerned about your knowledge than your excel skills. espeically b/c typical courses that prep you in terms of knowledge also prep excel usage.

similarly, previous internships/employments should have given you some experience with it.

if nothing gave you that experience then i'd simply be honest about your ability and say you're beginner. eventually you'll run into something that a "beginner" should know but that you weren't prepared for since you only tried to prep for the interview.

otherwise, what kinda finance job are you looking for where the above doesn't hold?

Barron

[SMB]

Not entirely sure what would come up on interviews, but it would be good to know IF and SUMIF functions (among others).

[Evan]

Knowing keyboard shortcuts is a lot more important than knowing how to use particular formulas. The only way to learn excel really well is to use it a lot. If you want I can probably find some old assignments and send them to you. Doing them without letting yourself use the mouse will be good training.

By the way, none of this will come up in interviews. They'll ask how your excel skills are, but they won't ask you to explain the syntax for vlookups. If you lie about how well you know excel it will show pretty quickly.

[PRE]

I was just given an Excel test in an interview today. If you want I can try getting my hands on it for you. PM me

[Evan]

[ QUOTE ]
I was just given an Excel test in an interview today. If you want I can try getting my hands on it for you. PM me

[/ QUOTE ]
Wow what did they ask you and what job were you interviewing for?

[DcifrThs]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I was just given an Excel test in an interview today. If you want I can try getting my hands on it for you. PM me

[/ QUOTE ]
Wow what did they ask you and what job were you interviewing for?

[/ QUOTE ]

i guess it makes sense as students recognize how important it is to have "excel skills" more and more people who dont have them put them on their resume. this increases teh chance an employer will hire one of these and after a few times of being "fooled" they simply include an excel test in the interview process to save time/$.

i've never seen, heard of one save in this thread.

also, even, your advice about not using the mouse is key. i didn't mention it b/c it is simply a given for me. writing macros is by far, for now, the differentiator of "skill" for certain positions. also knowing programs like matlab.

Barron

[Evan]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I was just given an Excel test in an interview today. If you want I can try getting my hands on it for you. PM me

[/ QUOTE ]
Wow what did they ask you and what job were you interviewing for?

[/ QUOTE ]

i guess it makes sense as students recognize how important it is to have "excel skills" more and more people who dont have them put them on their resume. this increases teh chance an employer will hire one of these and after a few times of being "fooled" they simply include an excel test in the interview process to save time/$.

i've never seen, heard of one save in this thread.

also, even, your advice about not using the mouse is key. i didn't mention it b/c it is simply a given for me. writing macros is by far, for now, the differentiator of "skill" for certain positions. also knowing programs like matlab.

Barron

[/ QUOTE ]
I half disagree on the macro thing. I've had multiple jobs and classes that were extremely excel-heavy. Most of them didn't require macros at all. I guess you kind of said the same thing, "certain positions." It's relatively rare that you really need to be familiar with VBA though. However, as I'm sure you know, when you do need it it can be absolutely crucial. I wouldn't put that on the list of first things to learn though. Same goes for Matlab too. Heavily quantitative jobs might make it a necessity, but I've never had to use it in my life. I've never even seen the program.

Also, my name is Evan, not Even.

[edtost]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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[ QUOTE ]
I was just given an Excel test in an interview today. If you want I can try getting my hands on it for you. PM me

[/ QUOTE ]
Wow what did they ask you and what job were you interviewing for?

[/ QUOTE ]

i guess it makes sense as students recognize how important it is to have "excel skills" more and more people who dont have them put them on their resume. this increases teh chance an employer will hire one of these and after a few times of being "fooled" they simply include an excel test in the interview process to save time/$.

i've never seen, heard of one save in this thread.

also, even, your advice about not using the mouse is key. i didn't mention it b/c it is simply a given for me. writing macros is by far, for now, the differentiator of "skill" for certain positions. also knowing programs like matlab.

Barron

[/ QUOTE ]
I half disagree on the macro thing. I've had multiple jobs and classes that were extremely excel-heavy. Most of them didn't require macros at all. I guess you kind of said the same thing, "certain positions." It's relatively rare that you really need to be familiar with VBA though. However, as I'm sure you know, when you do need it it can be absolutely crucial. I wouldn't put that on the list of first things to learn though. Same goes for Matlab too. Heavily quantitative jobs might make it a necessity, but I've never had to use it in my life. I've never even seen the program.

Also, my name is Evan, not Even.

[/ QUOTE ]

as someone who uses matlab a lot and loves it, its not even close to standard for financial jobs.

[dlk9s]

[ QUOTE ]

if nothing gave you that experience then i'd simply be honest about your ability and say you're beginner.

[/ QUOTE ]

You should say, "I excel in Excel!"

That would show that you have an unparalleled wit that would make you an asset to any company.