Advice Needed for Hiring Assistant Analyst

[UniMord]

I've been experiencing frustration in conducting interviews to hire an assistant data analyst to assist me with lots of Excel work (duties are about 85% Excel).

A guy claiming 5+ years work experience using Excel, just left my office. The interview, a total waste of time, because he knew nearly nothing of value.

What wording can be put into a want ad, to make it clear that only serious Excellers need apply? As the above proves, years of experience doesn't mean a whole lot.

I'd rather not have to spell it out with a shopping list of functions and constructs that prospects should be familiar with, because what I'm really after, is someone who is into Excel and has the curiosity to learn more. Such a person will likely know at least most of the practical stuff.

Thank you.

 

[RedBeard]

Have a practical test for the candidates you interview and make this clear in the wanted ad.

That way you can see what they've done and how they think to an extent. Even if a promising candidate fails this bit, if they can explain their reasoning, you have more information to work with.

 

[UniMord]

Are you saying I should mention in the ad that there'll be a formal test? I've never seen that in a want ad, but you do have a point; today's interviewee probably wouldn't have responded, had he known there was going to be a test. As it was, it took only a few basic questions oral questions, for me to determine that he wasn't a candidate.

 

[Joe4]

I had a job interview once in which they gave me an Excel test. Basically, it was creating a table, adding some formatting, and formulas. Nothing too fancy. But it is a good way to weed out those people who embellish their resumes or aren't entirely truthful.

If you know a lot of the Excel stuff they will need to do, you can really tailor the test to suit your needs.

 

[RedBeard]

An interview is always a nervous occasion, giving the person a chance to focus on something practical can help I find.

 

[UniMord]

Thank you Joe4 and RedBeard. I will try to implement your advice and see where that leads me...

 

[Joe4]

An interview is always a nervous occasion, giving the person a chance to focus on something practical can help I find.

Amen to that! Instead of having the person tell you what they can do, allow them to show you (you really cannot BS your way through that!).

 

[J.Ty.]

You might also ask the candidates to send you first a portfolio of a few Excel worksheets they have created themselves. Quick look at them and you know what they can do.

J.Ty.

 

[Joe4]

You might also ask the candidates to send you first a portfolio of a few Excel worksheets they have created themselves. Quick look at them and you know what they can do.

Maybe, maybe not. They could easily send you someone else's work and claim it as their own!

However, that might be a good pre-cursor to a test - kind of a way to weed certain people out before they even walk in the door for an interview. If they pass that first level, then maybe get them a test (where they have to do it there and cannot have someone else do it for them).

 

[UniMord]

I'm actually hooked on J. Ty.'s idea. Even if a prospect sends me somebody else's work, but can discuss it intelligently and explain it, that means we're dealing with someone who, at minimum, knows what he's talking about.
It's probably less stressful than asking for a live performance in front of me (I HATE when people stand over me while I work).