EXCEL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

(1) What is the difference between a workbook and a worksheet in Excel?

· A workbook is the entire Excel file that can contain multiple worksheets (also called
sheets).
· A worksheet is a single page within the workbook that consists of cells organized in
rows and columns for data storage and analysis.

(2) How do you use the VLOOKUP function? Give an example.

· VLOOKUP is used to search for a value in the first column of a table and return a
value in the same row from a specified column.
· Example: =VLOOKUP(101, A2:C10, 2, FALSE) → looks for 101 in column A
and returns the value from the 2nd column of the matching row.

(3) What are dynamic arrays in Excel? How do they work?

· Dynamic arrays automatically spill the result of a formula into adjacent cells.
· Functions like FILTER(), SORT(), and UNIQUE() use dynamic arrays.
· Example: =UNIQUE(A2:A10) will list all unique values from that range and spill
them vertically.

(4) Explain the use of the IF function in Excel. Can you give an example?
· IF checks a condition and returns one value if true, another if false.
· Example: =IF(A1>60, "Pass", "Fail") returns "Pass" if A1 > 60, otherwise
"Fail".

(5) What is the purpose of pivot tables in Excel? How do you create one?
· Pivot tables summarize and analyze large datasets.
· To create one: Select your data → Insert → PivotTable → Choose rows, columns,
values, and filters.

(6) How do you use conditional formatting to highlight specific values?

· Conditional formatting applies colors or styles to cells based on rules.
· Go to Home → Conditional Formatting → Choose rule type (e.g., "Greater Than",
"Text Contains", etc.).

(7) What is the difference between COUNT and COUNTA functions?

· COUNT() counts numeric values only.
· COUNTA() counts non-empty cells, including text and numbers.
(8) How do you protect a worksheet in Excel?
· Go to Review → Protect Sheet → Set a password and select allowed actions (e.g.,
select cells, format cells).

(9) Can you explain how the INDEX and MATCH functions work together?
· INDEX returns a value based on row and column position.
· MATCH returns the position of a value in a range.
· Combined: =INDEX(B2:B10, MATCH("John", A2:A10, 0)) finds "John" in
A2:A10 and returns the corresponding value from B2:B10.

(10) How would you remove duplicates from a dataset in Excel?

· Select the data → Data tab → Remove Duplicates → Choose columns to check → Click
OK.

(11) What is the purpose of the Data Validation feature in Excel?

· It restricts the type of data that can be entered in a cell (e.g., dropdown lists, number
limits).
· Go to Data → Data Validation.

(12) How do you create a drop-down list in Excel?

· Select the cell → Data → Data Validation → List → Enter items separated by commas
or select a range.

(13) What is the difference between relative, absolute, and mixed cell references?
· Relative: Adjusts when copied (e.g., A1).
· Absolute: Does not change (e.g., $A$1).
· Mixed: One part fixed (e.g., A$1 or $A1).

(14) How do you split text into separate columns using a delimiter in Excel?
· Select column → Data tab → Text to Columns → Choose Delimited → Select delimiter
(comma, tab, etc.) → Finish.

(15) Explain the purpose of the SUMIFS function. How is it different from SUMIF?
· SUMIF() adds values based on a single condition.
· SUMIFS() allows multiple conditions.
· Example: =SUMIFS(C2:C10, A2:A10, "Apples", B2:B10, "East").
 SQL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
(1) What is SQL, and why is it important for data management?
· SQL (Structured Query Language) is used to interact with relational databases.
· It enables inserting, updating, deleting, and retrieving data efficiently.
· It's crucial for managing large datasets and supports data integrity, relational
structure, and automation.

(2) What is the difference between INNER JOIN and OUTER JOIN?
· INNER JOIN: Returns records with matching values in both tables.
· OUTER JOIN: Returns matching and non-matching rows:
o LEFT JOIN: All records from the left table + matching from the right.
o RIGHT JOIN: All records from the right table + matching from the left.
o FULL OUTER JOIN: All records from both tables, with NULLs where no match
exists.

(3) How do you retrieve unique values from a column in SQL?

· Use the DISTINCT keyword.
· Example: SELECT DISTINCT department FROM employees;

(4) Explain the difference between WHERE and HAVING clauses.

· WHERE filters rows before grouping.
· HAVING filters groups after aggregation.
· Example:
SELECT department, COUNT(*)
FROM employees
GROUP BY department
HAVING COUNT(*) > 10;

(5) What is the purpose of the GROUP BY clause in SQL?

· GROUP BY groups rows that have the same values into summary rows.
· Often used with aggregate functions like SUM(), COUNT(), AVG().
· Example:
SELECT department, AVG(salary)
FROM employees
GROUP BY department;

(6) How do you create a table in SQL? Can you give an example?
· Use CREATE TABLE statement.
· Example:
CREATE TABLE employees (
emp_id INT PRIMARY KEY,
 name VARCHAR(100),
salary DECIMAL(10,2),
department VARCHAR(50)
);

(7) What is the purpose of a primary key in a database table?

· A primary key uniquely identifies each row.
· It enforces uniqueness and non-null constraints.
· Each table can have only one primary key, which may consist of one or more
columns.

(8) How can you delete duplicate rows in SQL?

· Using ROW_NUMBER() in a subquery:
DELETE FROM employees
WHERE emp_id NOT IN (
SELECT MIN(emp_id)
FROM employees
GROUP BY name, salary, department
);

(9) What is a subquery, and how is it used in SQL?

· A subquery is a query nested inside another query.
· Used in SELECT, WHERE, or FROM clauses.
· Example:
SELECT name FROM employees
WHERE salary > (SELECT AVG(salary) FROM employees);

(10) What are the differences between UNION and UNION ALL?
· UNION: Combines results from two queries, removes duplicates.
· UNION ALL: Combines results and keeps duplicates.
· Both queries must have the same number and type of columns.

(11) How do you find the second highest salary in a table?

· Use DISTINCT and LIMIT or OFFSET:
SELECT DISTINCT salary
FROM employees
ORDER BY salary DESC
LIMIT 1 OFFSET 1;
· Or using subquery:
SELECT MAX(salary)
FROM employees
WHERE salary < (SELECT MAX(salary) FROM employees);
(12) What is a stored procedure in SQL, and why would you use one?
· A stored procedure is a precompiled collection of SQL statements.
· Benefits:
o Reusability.
o Improved performance.
o Better security.
· Example:
CREATE PROCEDURE GetHighSalaryEmployees()
BEGIN
SELECT * FROM employees WHERE salary > 100000;
END;

(13) Explain the purpose of the COUNT function in SQL.

· COUNT() returns the number of rows that match a condition.
· Example: SELECT COUNT(*) FROM employees WHERE department =
'HR';

(14) What is normalization, and why is it important in databases?

· Normalization organizes data to reduce redundancy and improve integrity.
· It involves splitting large tables into smaller ones and defining relationships.
· Common forms: 1NF (atomic data), 2NF (no partial dependency), 3NF (no transitive
dependency).

(15) How do you write an SQL query to join three tables?

· Use multiple JOINs:
SELECT e.name, d.name, p.project_name
FROM employees e
JOIN departments d ON e.dept_id = d.id
JOIN projects p ON e.project_id = p.id;
 POWER BI INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
(1) What is Power BI, and how is it used for data visualization?
· Power BI is a Microsoft business analytics tool used for visualizing data, creating
dashboards, and sharing reports.
· It transforms raw data into interactive visual insights using charts, graphs, maps, etc.
· It supports real-time analytics, data modeling, and report sharing across devices.

(2) What is the difference between Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service?
· Power BI Desktop: A free Windows application to design reports and dashboards.
· Power BI Service: A cloud-based platform (app.powerbi.com) for sharing, publishing,
and collaborating on reports.
· Desktop is for development; Service is for sharing and real-time use.

(3) How do you create a calculated column in Power BI?

· Go to Data view → Modeling tab → New Column, then write a DAX expression.
· Example:
FullName = Customers[FirstName] & " " &
Customers[LastName]

(4) What is a relationship in Power BI, and how do you create one?
· Relationships define how tables are connected using keys (e.g., primary and foreign
keys).
· To create: Go to Model view → Drag field from one table to another, or use
"Manage Relationships".

(5) Explain the difference between a measure and a calculated column.

· Calculated Column: Evaluated row-by-row; result stored in a column.
· Measure: Evaluated during query time; used in aggregations (e.g., SUM, AVG).
· Measures are efficient; calculated columns consume memory.

(6) How do you apply filters to a report in Power BI?

· Filters can be applied at different levels:
o Visual-level: Affects one visual only.
o Page-level: Affects all visuals on a report page.
o Report-level: Affects the entire report.
· Filters are found in the Filters pane on the right.

(7) What is DAX, and why is it important in Power BI?

· DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is a formula language used for calculations in Power
BI.
· It enables creation of custom measures, calculated columns, time intelligence, etc.
· Example:
 SalesGrowth = (SUM(Sales[2024]) - SUM(Sales[2023])) /
SUM(Sales[2023])

(8) How do you handle many-to-many relationships in Power BI?

· Use bridge (intermediate) tables to resolve ambiguity.
· Set relationship cardinality as Many-to-Many and ensure proper cross-filter direction.
· Example: Product–>Sales–>CustomerProduct table.

(9) Explain the use of slicers in Power BI reports.

· Slicers are visual filters that allow users to interactively select data (e.g., year, region).
· They affect one or multiple visuals, enabling dynamic report exploration.

(10) How do you publish a Power BI report to the Power BI Service?

· In Power BI Desktop: Go to File → Publish → Select Workspace.
· Sign in with your Microsoft account to upload it to Power BI Service.

(11) What is the purpose of the Power Query editor?

· Power Query is used for data transformation (cleaning, merging, filtering, reshaping).
· Accessed via "Transform Data". It uses M language behind the scenes.
· Example tasks: remove nulls, split columns, merge queries, change data types.

(12) How do you refresh data in a Power BI report?

· In Desktop: Click Home → Refresh.
· In Service: Use Scheduled Refresh in Dataset settings to auto-refresh data from
sources like SQL, Excel, etc.

(13) Explain the concept of row-level security in Power BI.

· Row-Level Security (RLS) restricts data access at the row level based on user roles.
· Define roles using DAX filters, then assign users to roles in the Power BI Service.
· Example: [Region] = USERNAME() restricts users to their own region’s data.

(14) What is the difference between a dashboard and a report in Power BI?
· Report: Multiple pages with visuals; created in Desktop.
· Dashboard: Single-page view created in the Service using visuals pinned from reports.
· Reports are interactive and detailed; dashboards are high-level summaries.

(15) What are the major components of Power BI?

· Power BI Desktop – Authoring and designing reports.
· Power BI Service – Online platform for sharing and collaboration.
· Power BI Mobile – View dashboards on mobile devices.
· Power BI Gateway – Connects on-premise data sources to Power BI Service.
· Power Query – ETL tool for data preparation.
· Power Pivot – Data modeling and DAX engine.