Inventables Executive Assistant Challenge
This task is a required challenge if you wish to work as the Executive Assistant at Inventables.
There are four parts to this challenge that each pertain to a specific problem or task you may face in this role. Follow the instructions carefully. Only a perfect solution will be passed. Every detail needs to be exactly worked out. Double-check your work before submitting your answer. Please do not contact us with any questions. This document and the Internet provide all the information required to successfully submit your application.
Instructions for Part 1:
Our CEO is going to be traveling to Palo Alto, CA to meet with True Ventures June 2nd-4th. You have been asked to coordinate all travel (plane, rental, hotel). Must find a direct flight and avoid using United or US Airways. The hotel should not be more than 5 miles away from True Venture’s office. You have an $1,100 budget.
- Create a free Google account
- Create a Google Spreadsheet and include your name and “p1” as the title
(e.g., lastname, first name-p1)
- Rename this first sheet “Flights”
- In cell A1 enter “Departing Airport”
- In cell B1 enter “Arriving Airport”
- In cell C1 enter “Airline”
- In cell D1 enter “Departure Time”
- In cell E1 enter “Arrival Time”
- In cell F1 enter “Price”
- Do your research and enter in the information accordingly
- Highlight the lowest cost flight
- Add new sheet
- Rename this second sheet “Hotels”
- In cell A1 enter “Hotel name”
- In cell B1 enter “Mileage from office”
- In cell C1 enter “Price”
- Do your research and enter in the information accordingly
- Highlight the hotel with the lowest cost in yellow
- Highlight the hotel that is closest to the office in green
- Add a new sheet
- Rename this third sheet “Rental Cars”
- In cell A1 enter “Rental Company”
- In cell B1 enter “Price”
- Do your research and enter in the information accordingly
- Highlight the company with the lowest cost
This completes Part 1
Instructions for Part 2:
We are constantly looking for the best vendors and the best new materials to sell on our website. Sometimes more than one manufacturer offer the same or similar products. For this project we have heard there are 3 manufacturers that make translucent concrete. Your job is to find all 3 and find out how much the concrete costs from each of them.
- Create a Google Spreadsheet and include your name and “p2” as the title (e.g., lastname, firstname-p2)
- Rename this sheet “Product Sourcing”
- In cell A1 enter “Company”
- In cell A2 enter “Website where the actual product is listed (not the homepage)”
- In cell A3 enter “Cost”
- In cell A4 enter “Advantages compared to the other 2”
- Do your research and enter in the information accordingly
Hint: You should have at least three total companies you are comparing.
This completes Part 2
Instructions for Part 3:
You are responsible for matching the CEO’s credit card receipts to the statement. Below you will find an export of credit card transactions for the month of January 2010. Please code each transaction using the general ledger codes also listed below.
Transactions:
| Date: | Description: | Amount: | GL: |
| 1/02/2010 | Stamps.com Service Fee | $15.99 | |
| 1/02/2010 | Jewel Osco | $82.47 | |
| 1/04/2010 | CEO Deliveries | $79.84 | |
| 1/06/2010 | 37 Signals Job Posting | $300.00 | |
| 1/06/2010 | CEO Deliveries | $66.97 | |
| 1/07/2010 | CEO Deliveries | $63.18 | |
| 1/11/2010 | Reza’s Restaurant | $38.28 | |
| 1/12/2010 | Staples | $96.49 | |
| 1/13/2010 | CEO Deliveries | $61.85 | |
| 1/15/2010 | ATT Business Phone | $320.90 | |
| 1/15/2010 | Office Depot | $17.63 | |
| 1/19/2010 | Peapod Groceries | $222.64 | |
| 1/20/2010 | OfficeTeam | $687.52 | |
| 1/21/2010 | Donna’s Cleaning Service | $250.00 | |
| 1/25/2010 | People’s Gas | $283.15 | |
| 1/28/2010 | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $5,279.35 | |
| 1/29/2010 | Dell | $59.00 | |
| 1/29/2010 | CEO Deliveries | $72.11 | |
| 1/29/2010 | DiningIn | $85.79 | |
| 1/29/2010 | Verizon Wireless | $285.42 |
General Ledger cods (GLs):
6101 – Shipping, delivery, driving
6112 – Utilities
6113 – Telephone
6115 – Office Assistants
6120 – Office Supplies
6121 – Cleaning & Maintenance
6122 – Computer Accessories
6131 – Travel
6132 – Meals
6142 – Job Posting & Recruiting
6195 – Health Insurance
- Create a Google Spreadsheet and include your name and “p3” as the title (e.g., lastname, firstname-p3)
-Rename this sheet “January 2010″
- In cell A1 enter “Date”
- In cell A2 enter “Description”
- In cell A3 enter “Amount”
- In cell A4 enter “GL”
- Fill in all appropriate cells with the list of transactions above
Hint: If you can copy/paste the table into Google Spreadsheet and just enter in the GL numbers, that is fine.
This completes Part 3
Instructions for Part 4:
- Now create a Google Site named whatever you wish.
- On the “Home” page, please put the following information:
- Your name
- Your email address
- Create a page under “Home” called “Part 1 Submission”
- Embed the Google Spreadsheet you created for Part 1 on this page, with a width of 700 and a height of 200.
Hint: In order for this step to work, you will have to share spreadsheet.
- Create a second page under “Home” called “Part 2 Submission”
- Embed the Google Spreadsheet you created for Part 2 on this page, with a width of 700 and a height of 200.
Hint: In order for this step to work, you will have to share spreadsheet.
- Create a third page under “Home” called “Part 3 Submission”
- Embed the Google Spreadsheet you created for Part 3 on this page, with a width of 700 and a height of 200.
Hint: In order for this step to work, you will have to share the spreadsheet.
- Share the Google Site and all Google Spreadsheets with zkaplan [at] inventables [dot] com
- Please do not email this address with any questions or resumes.
We understand that this type of application is not a good fit for everyone. However, we feel that the successful candidate at Inventables must exhibit the qualities required to successfully complete this challenge. Thank you for your time and good luck!