This isn’t your typical Excel challenge.
Here’s an Excel test set at your job interview.
The interviewer smiles as you settle in.
“We believe spreadsheets are the real infrastructure behind enterprise operations. Without them, businesses would be back to pen and paper – because most enterprise systems are too expensive or too inflexible to adapt. Sound familiar?”
You nod.
“But most spreadsheets are… clumsy. Slow. Fragile. That’s why we’re looking for exceptional people who can reimagine how Excel is applied – not just how to repeat what they have seen on social media.”
“To the right candidate we offer three times the average pay rates for Excel skills”.
You lean in.
“So we have a little thought experiment for you. Are you up for it?”
Yes. This should be good.
The interviewer sets the scene:
“Gordon Ramsay has just hired you to manage operations for The 100 Club — a weekly private lunch hosted by a major corporate client.”
“Every Friday, 100 guests attend this big lunch.
On Monday morning, Gordon tells you the menu for this week:
Three starters. Three mains. Three desserts – chosen from a master list of dishes he has given you in one Excel workbook. Each dish lives on its own spreadsheet tab, with ingredients and quantities per person.
You must:
- Send the menu to the 100 guests.
- Collect their selections by the Wednesday 6pm deadline.
- By Wednesday 7pm, send a total ingredients list to the grocery supplier.
Your solution must be driven by Excel.
No mistakes. You know Gordon won’t like that!
No delays. Just one hour between selections deadline and your submission.”
“That’s the challenge,” the interviewer says. “Take 5 minutes to think. You don’t need to solve it. Just imagine how you’d approach it.”
Coffee arrives. The interviewer steps out.
Five minutes later, the interviewer returns.
“Actually – don’t answer just yet. Let me show you how we solve it.”
“We’d do just three clicks.
- ✅ Click 1: Select the weekly menu per Gordon.
- ✅ Click 2: Guests make their selections.
- ✅ Click 3: Get the Shopping List on a sheet. Done.
The entire grocery list compiles itself. Clean. Instant. No errors.”
You look surprised. Possibly impressed.
“Now here’s the real question,” the interviewer says. “What drives this? In just three words or less.”
YOUR TURN:
What do you think powers this solution?
Comment with your answer in 3 words or less.
And yes – this is an Excel solution.
It is native Excel. No special or proprietary add-ins. And it’s enterprise-grade.
🟢 Watch the three-clicks short demo video (linked in first comment).
🟢 Comment your answer in the comments below. (on LinkedIn)
🟢 See if you’re one of the few who gets it.
The candidates who do?
They earn 3x the average Excel pay.
This challenge is devised by Hiran de Silva.
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