Your first job · 2 min read
Spreadsheet practice for job applications in Ethiopia: sort without mixing rows
Use fictional delivery records to practise sorting and checking a small data table.
Office and operations roles may require accurate spreadsheet work. You can practise without an expensive course or real customer records. The exercise below uses fictional delivery data; it is not an employer’s test.
Build a small table
Create four columns: delivery reference, destination, delivery date and status. Add these invented rows:
- A101 — Addis Ababa — 12 November 2026 — pending. - A102 — Adama — 8 November 2026 — completed. - A103 — Bahir Dar — 10 November 2026 — pending.
Select the complete table, including headers, and sort by delivery date from oldest to newest. The correct order is A102, A103, A101. Check that each reference remains on the same row as its destination and status. If you sort only one column independently, you can accidentally mix the records.
Microsoft’s sorting guidance explains how Excel handles dates and warns that dates stored as text may not sort as expected. Check your application’s settings and confirm that dates are recognised correctly.
Explain the result
You might say: “I organised a small practice dataset by date and checked that each reference stayed with its original row.” If an interviewer asks about experience, describe whether this was practice, a class project or paid work. Do not claim workplace experience you do not have.
Protect information
Never put actual client names, addresses or contact details into a public example without authorisation. When an advert asks for Excel, check the required level and the employer’s own instructions. This exercise teaches one basic task; it does not establish qualification for every data or finance role.