Advice Needed for Hiring Assistant Analyst

UniMord

Active Member
Joined
May 6, 2002
Messages
311
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.
 
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).
My experience wasn't quite like that.
They just gave me a computer that was not hooked up to the internet and a time limit and left the room.
Of course, these days you would have to make sure that they do not have their cell phone on them!

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.
I would be sure to ask some very direct questions, especially based on what kind of level of work you expect from them. Maybe discuss some functions or tasks that you might use a lot of (i.e. VLOOKUPs, Charts, Pivot Tables, - it all really depends on what you need). Not saying that they need to know all of it off the top of their head, but you might be able to get a feel if the person is a technical person or not.

Something else that places where I work do - when they first hire you, you start out on a 6 month probationary period. If they like you, they hire you permanently at the end of the 6 month period. If not, they just let it lapse and you are done after 6 months. It helps take the sting out of having to fire people, especially in our litigious society where people may try to sue for wrongful termination!

Good luck! Hope you find a good candidate to hire!
 
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Excel Facts

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Copy the range. Select a blank cell. Right-click, Paste Special, then choose Transpose.
Maybe, maybe not. They could easily send you someone else's work and claim it as their own!
Perhaps, but not without consequences. In Europe, where I live, that would be an offence against copyrigth law. In principle, I could call police in such a case.

J.Ty.
 
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Perhaps, but not without consequences. In Europe, where I live, that would be an offence against copyrigth law. In principle, I could call police in such a case.
Could be hard to locate/prove. I was thinking for that they could have a knowledgeable friend or family member whip something up for them, or maybe do it themselves, but with tons of help from someone who knows what they are doing. And I doubt a potential employer wants to get all wrapped up in the a case like that. They probably have better things to do.

My point is just asking someone to send you something allows for the possibility for them to send you something that is not 100% their own doing.
Now if you follow it up with lots of detailed questions about it, you may be able to quickly expose that it is either not theirs, or that they did that with a lot of outside help.
 
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My point is that I can hardly imagine someone who applies for a job, and doing so deliberately commits an offence. Too much risk for the potential benefit.

J.Ty.
 
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My point is that I can hardly imagine someone who applies for a job, and doing so deliberately commits an offence. Too much risk for the potential benefit.
Maybe people are more honorable in Europe than they are here over in the States!
People over here are known for embellishing their resumes and the like. Many people will do anything to get an edge!
Unfortunately, cheating and corruption are not uncommon...
 
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