Interviewing but no skills

[HopelessFor2011]

How do you seriously respond to a question about your experience in Excel when you have no working experience/basic knowledge of it?

Just a flat out, "Nope never used it"?

What are your experiences?

[Colymbosathon ecplecticos]

If you know that you will be doing Excel spreadsheets for the next n years, why not just learn it?

[Dr. John Zoidberg]

Originally Posted by HopelessFor2011

How do you seriously respond to a question about your experience in Excel when you have no working experience/basic knowledge of it?

Just a flat out, "Nope never used it"?

What are your experiences?

I've always said I know more than I do, never been called out on it. I wouldn't say that you know something directly testable like pivots or vba, but just something like "yeah, i used it a lot in school"... That being said, if you have no basic knowledge of Excel, you don't deserve a sniff of even an internship.

[LifeIsAPoissonProcess]

Start learning it. There are several beginner-level books, and online videos with hundreds of examples. Not only is it necessary, there are so many things about Excel that will make your day to day job easier.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ExcelIsFun

http://www.amazon.com/Excel-2010-Dum...0071184&sr=8-1

[rob22]

The worst thing you can do is say that "of course I know Excel, it's easy, and I made graphs on it in school." So many people say this, and have no idea how much there is to Excel.

Just saying that you are learning about xxx,xxxx, blah blah in excel and there's so much to learn but you learn quickly and like technology is much better. Even if you don't know that much, just say you have done some pivot tables (and practice a few) so they know you have some sort of background.

Also, seriously buckle down and learn it. You're going to use it all the time most likely.

[Stone Wall Jackson]

These questions always baffle me. "I have an obvious weakness. When asked about it, what's the best way to look good without doing any actual work?"

How about taking the time to improve your weakness rather than come up with the best way to hide it?

SWJ

[LifeIsAPoissonProcess]

Buzz words to use when asked if you are familiar with Excel:

Macro, Pivot Table, VLookup, Visual Basic.

Words that aren't as impressive:

Bold, Merge & Center, Line Graph, Hide Gridlines, Save As.

I had no idea what a vlookup was when I started applying for jobs. A quick sample data set and a few youtube videos and I was good to go. Haven't struggled with it at all using it on the job.

[dukelampard]

Originally Posted by Stone Wall Jackson

These questions always baffle me. "I have an obvious weakness. When asked about it, what's the best way to look good without doing any actual work?"

How about taking the time to improve your weakness rather than come up with the best way to hide it?

SWJ

I went into my first ever on-site interview for an entry level job, and I made an ass out of myself. Take a class, find some online sources, anything.

[Hawkshaw]

If it's an entry level position I wouldn't worry about it. You can learn Excel on the job so just be honest.

[GargoyleWaiting]

Never used excel, or never used any sort of spreadsheet/database package?

I genuinely don't see how you could seriously be considering an actuarial job if you've never had to deal with data. You do know what this career involves, right?
Don't lie in an interview, that's never smart, but - seriously - learn enough of this to show you've at least thought about the skills you'll need.