Excel VBA Test

[MrRobin]

Went to meet an agent last week about an Excel VBA developer role they had. Was told that before I could meet the client, I would have to complete their test.

I was presented with a blank spreadsheet, except 10 cells in 1 column with some numbers in. The test was to sort the data using VBA without using the sort function. It also said they weren't looking to see how fast I could complete the task but the quality of the programming.

40 mins later and have a macro that does the following:

Array is populated by the selected cells
Array is rearranged, element by element using loops
Array is spat back out into spreadsheet next to original data

Everything works, is flexible on inputs, is instantaneous etc etc. Noone is around to tell I have finished so I add in error correction, option to sort asc/desc, a nice little button, comment all the code etc etc.

Next day I get an email saying sorry, test was not strong enough to progress. I asked if I could have some constructive feedback about why they thought so, since in my mind it did everything they asked for and more. Said they'd get back to me but haven't heard anything since and probably won't.

How would my fellow CUK excel vba experts have done it? What are my failings?

Ta. R.

[DBA_bloke]

Tests like this are weak and a bit pointless. One question? Absurd.

I suspect that you did nothing wrong.

Remember, someone had to grade your answer. Maybe your approach aced their own "clever" one? Maybe the vacancy was filled, and they decided to fob-off agents with "Your candidate was weak, sorry.” Who knows?

I sat a ridiculously difficult test for an Oracle DBA post some time back. Its content was, and is to this day, irrelevant to real DBA work. I suspect I got a crap score, but never found out. Gave up trying to find out after not hearing back after asking the agent how I did.

Don't be upset or put off. You simply don't know the context of the test, etc.

Also, be careful with some tests: one or two have a bit of blurb saying something like "Your score will be recorded and disseminated to the masses". I'd avoid that sort of test – a “one off” bad day and a crap score could follow you around..

[chicane]

Did you use a bubble sort? If so, they may have been looking for something more advanced - radix sort, quicksort etc. Having said this, I wouldn't expect many developers, let alone VBA developers, to be familiar with software engineering techniques and advanced algorithms as such skills are generally not required in VBA roles.

But more likely than the above, your face didn't fit what the recruiter had imagined in their head.

[lilelvis2000]

Perhaps using the array did you in?

Dunno, I would have treated the column of cells like an array - in the VBA code they essentially are. and just sorted them in place.

Dunno. But sounds a bit odd. Perhaps they are hoping to bring someone in on a work permit and you were the token interview.

[MrRobin]

Thanks for the comments. Good to know there's nothing obviously wrong...

Yes it was a bubble sort, I know algorithms exist, don't have experience using them tho... but as you say, for use in VBA? For 10 cells??!

Yeah I could have just rearranged them in the sheet itself, could have used the small function, probably a number of other ways but I thought as it was a test to demonstrate my VBA knowledge I thought I would use a cross section of programming methods, making sure I adhere to good practice naming conventions and only using required minimum variable types for memory reasons etc etc.

Oh well, whatever, meh. Probably just didn't like my face. I've emailed a polite reminder about some decent feedback. Will post it if I ever get any.

[thunderlizard]

Don't worry, they are clearly buffoons. Life is full of them and you just have to deal with them as politely and quickly as possible. Maybe they had a different code indentation standard from yours, and didn't think people were capable of learning another one.

[daviejones]

Maybe they had a different code indentation standard from yours,

Erm....yeah, that's what I was gonna say!!!

[Spacecadet]

I would have just used the sort function and told them that unless there is a specific reason any other method is a waste of time and effort. Maybe thats what the real test was

I have been in positions where i've been tasked with some work and given a previous versions of code to modify to the purpose, i've promptly trashed the original and rewritten from scratch, occasionally using different technologies because the clients methods involved too much work and effort. Sometimes people aren't happy with that but if you can demonstrate that your methods are sound then they start to pick up on why you're there in the first place.

[PRC1964]

Maybe your solution was so good and so well documented that they now have no need to hire anyone.

[MrRobin]

Maybe your solution was so good and so well documented that they now have no need to hire anyone.

Hahaha

Yeah! New features coming in Excel 2008:

10 different ways to sort your data. Authored by gullible, benchbound contrators.