𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿:
You have 2 minutes to solve this Excel problem.

You have the following data:

Employee ID | Employee Name | Department
101 | John | IT
102 | Sarah | HR
103 | Mike | Finance
104 | David | Sales

How would you return the Employee Name for Employee ID 103?

𝗠𝗲: Challenge accepted! 💪

=XLOOKUP(103,A2:A5,B2:B5)

💡 Explanation:
The XLOOKUP() function searches for a value in one column and returns the corresponding value from another column.
• 103 is the lookup value.
• A2:A5 is the lookup array containing Employee IDs.
• B2:B5 is the return array containing Employee Names.
The formula returns Mike.

This challenge tests your understanding of:
✅ XLOOKUP()
✅ Lookup Functions
✅ Data Retrieval

🎯 Expected Output Example
Formula Result
=XLOOKUP(103,A2:A5,B2:B5) Mike

🚀 Bonus (For Older Excel Versions)
=INDEX(B2:B5,MATCH(103,A2:A5,0))

Or you can use:
=VLOOKUP(103,A2:C5,2,FALSE)

While VLOOKUP() works, XLOOKUP() is more flexible because it can search both left and right, doesn't require a column index number, and handles missing values more effectively.

🚀 Tip for Excel Job Seekers:
Lookup functions are among the most frequently asked Excel interview topics. Be comfortable with:
XLOOKUP()
VLOOKUP()
HLOOKUP()
INDEX() + MATCH()
XMATCH()

Knowing when to use each one can make a big difference in interviews.

❤️ React with ❤️ for more interview challenges!