Business analyst interviews focus on turning data into decisions. Excel questions test reporting, accuracy and clear communication.
Technical questions
Which Excel functions do you use most?
XLOOKUP or VLOOKUP, SUMIFS and COUNTIFS, IF and IFERROR, text functions, and PivotTables. Mention a real example for each.
How do you build a monthly KPI report?
Keep raw data on one sheet, build a summary with SUMIFS or a PivotTable, add month-on-month change with a percentage formula, and chart the key KPIs.
How do you calculate growth?
=(New - Old) / Old, formatted as a percentage.
How would you forecast next quarter?
Use FORECAST.LINEAR or a trendline for a simple projection, and explain the assumptions behind it.
What is what-if analysis?
Tools such as Goal Seek, Data Tables and Scenario Manager that show how results change when inputs change.
Business-focused questions
How do you explain data to a non-technical manager?
Lead with the conclusion, show one clear chart, and then give the supporting numbers.
How do you make sure a report is trusted?
Reconcile to the source, document assumptions and keep formulas visible and consistent.
How do you handle changing requirements?
Use tables, named ranges and a separate inputs sheet so changes do not mean rebuilding.