18. Interview Questions Asked in MNC Interviews
18.4 TCS
M31. Explain absolute and relative references.
Reported for: TCS [S4] · also Amazon [S8]
Relative (A2) adjusts when copied; absolute ($A$2) stays fixed. Example: commission =G2*$K$1 copied down keeps pointing to the rate in K1. Mixed references fix only the row or column – useful in grids.
M32. How do you use conditional formatting?
Reported for: TCS [S4] · also Infosys [S12], MathCo [S15]
Home › Styles › Conditional Formatting: Highlight Cells Rules (greater than, duplicates), Top/Bottom rules, Data Bars, Color Scales, Icon Sets, and formula-based rules. Example: highlight orders slower than 12 minutes with =$H2>12 applied to the whole row. Manage rules via Manage Rules to check order and ranges.
M33. What are filters in Excel and how do you apply them?
Reported for: TCS [S5] · also KPMG [S10], Capgemini [S11]
Filters show only rows that meet criteria. Data › Sort & Filter › Filter (Ctrl + Shift + L) adds drop-downs; choose values, Text/Number/Date Filters (e.g. Amount greater than 500) or filter by colour. Use SUBTOTAL/AGGREGATE to total only visible rows, and Advanced filter for complex OR criteria or copying results elsewhere.
M34. Which Excel shortcuts do you use regularly?
Reported for: TCS [S5]
Ctrl + T (Table), Ctrl + Shift + L (filter), Ctrl + Arrow / Ctrl + Shift + Arrow (navigate and select), F4 (absolute references), Alt + = (AutoSum), Ctrl + E (Flash Fill), Ctrl + 1 (Format Cells), Ctrl + ; (today's date), Alt + F11 (VBA Editor), Ctrl + Alt + F5 (Refresh All). See Module 19.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip
Rounds like TCS's include basic questions (filters, shortcuts, references), and many students take them lightly. Even for a basic question, give a definition + one live example, and if asked about shortcuts, mention only the ones you really use every day – the interviewer may ask you to try them right there.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – मराठी
TCS सारख्या rounds मध्ये basic प्रश्न (filters, shortcuts, references) येतात आणि बरेच students ते हलके घेतात. Basic प्रश्नाला पण definition + एक live उदाहरण द्या, आणि shortcuts विचारले तर तुम्ही रोज खरंच वापरता तेच सांगा – interviewer तिथेच try करायला सांगू शकतो.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – हिंदी
TCS जैसे rounds में basic सवाल (filters, shortcuts, references) आते हैं और बहुत से students उन्हें हल्के में लेते हैं. Basic सवाल पर भी definition + एक live उदाहरण दो, और shortcuts पूछे जाएँ तो वही बताओ जो तुम रोज़ सच में इस्तेमाल करते हो – interviewer वहीं try करने को कह सकता है.
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- Total billable (Easy): Add up Billable hrs in D2:D11. (sheet "Data")
- Average rating (Easy): Average of Rating in E2:E11, rounded to 2 decimals. (sheet "Data")
- Banking count (Easy): How many rows have Project "Banking"? (sheet "Data")
- Max billable (Easy): Largest Billable hrs in D2:D11. (sheet "Data")
- Pune count (Easy): How many rows have City "Pune"? (sheet "Data")
- Banking hours (Medium): Total of Billable hrs where Project is "Banking". (sheet "Data")
- B4 ratings sum (Medium): Total of Rating where Band is "B4". (sheet "Data")
- Banking Pune hours (Medium): Billable hrs where Project is "Banking" and City is "Pune". (sheet "Data")
- Rating of E7 (Medium): Rating for Emp "E7". (sheet "Data")
- Share banking hrs (Hard): Banking hours / all hours, 3 decimals. (sheet "Data")
- High rating count (Hard): How many rows have Rating > 4? (sheet "Data")
- Above avg rating? (Hard): "Star" if E2 > average rating else "OK". (sheet "Data")
- B3 headcount (Hard): How many rows have Band "B3"? (sheet "Data")
Worked example — tcs
Why
Aarti Kulkarni in Pune and Anna Kowalski abroad both need a clear, repeatable way to use tcs on a QuickCart Delivery sheet without breaking totals.
What
Tcs is the Excel idea this page teaches. We will walk one tiny example end to end.
How
- Open a blank sheet. In A1 type a short label for tcs.
- Enter a small made-up value for Aarti Kulkarni using € where money appears.
- Add a second value for Anna Kowalski using $ so you see mixed currencies stay numeric.
- Apply the method from this lesson step by step (menu or formula as shown above).
- Check the result still works inside SUM or a simple check cell.
Formula / action
Follow the formula or ribbon steps shown in this lesson (keep values numeric).Meaning: Once tcs is correct on one row, copy the same pattern down the column.
Quick revision cards
Three standalone cards. Each one explains the idea with its own example. Scan the QR to open this lesson.
