Resume Question / Help In General

[Nine Zero]

Hello All!,

I have been learning VBA in Excel for about a year now and I find it amazing all the things that can be done and it is really fun. My question is, I have multiple "programs" (which are mainly userforms interacting with some data entry and much more) that I have created here at my current job. How do I go about "demonstrating" this in an interview? Do I show code?, how it works?, what it does?, all of the above? How would I, if i should, add these tasks to my resume? Also would simple/complex userforms be considered "programs" or what official name would be given to those?

Thank you for your help

 

[Joe4]

One thing you need to be very careful about. I am note sure where you currently live, but in many countries anything that you created for a company while you were employed there is considered the intellectual property of that company (and not yours). So, if you were demonstrating these programs to other companies, you could be in violation of your terms of employments and/or laws and land yourself in a heap of trouble and potential lawsuits.

If you would like to demonstrate that to them, you should create a new, simple one (on your own time/computer) from scratch, so you cannot be accused of that. Personally, I don't know much stock a company might put into something pre-written that you bring in. They have no idea if you created it, or someone else did. I would just talk (generally) about your Excel skills, and what you have done. If they would like to see a demonstration or it is important to them, they may administer there own Excel test. I had a job like that, where part of the interview was demonstrating Excel skills.

 

[Nine Zero]

Thanks for your response!

Yes I have a friend who told me the same thing about the restrictions on what is yours and what isn't. Would that be something my HR department could shed light on?

And i totally understand what you say by just demonstrating what I can do with a given file. Maybe I am just overthinking this a bit. I am currently studying Software Development and I have 2 semesters to go so I am trying to prepare myself for the "real world" because I dont want to be at my current job for the rest of my career. I think I need to focus more on what i really like (Java/Android Dev) and I am sure when i go apply, it will be for a job in that field, not Excel VBA. But VBA has helped tremendously in me understanding other programming languages.

Thank you very much

 

[Joe4]

Would that be something my HR department could shed light on?

Yes, they should be able clarify that. But keep in mind that may alert your current employer that you are interviewer elsewhere (which you may not want your current employer to know).

I am not sure how your current company operates, but mine had us sign a bunch of agreements upon employment, and there is an employee handbook that outlines all of these things.

My advice would be, don't risk it. If you want to show them something, create something new on your own time. However, if the job you are interviewing for doesn't mention Excel and/or VBA programming skills, I probably wouldn't bother. They probably won't ask about that.

 

[DWelchUser]

I agree with them, Nine Zero. It would be better if you will be able to demonstrate your skill through other methods. Most companies have already designed a simulation for that in order to test your skills.
I hope you'll do well in your interview