---
title: "Finding data with XLOOKUP"
course: "BUSN 115 · Excel for work"
unit: "Functions that do the work"
lesson: 9 of 20
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/excel-for-work/finding-data-with-xlookup
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Finding data with XLOOKUP

Lesson 9 of 20 in **Excel for work** (BUSN 115), unit "Functions that do the work". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Use XLOOKUP to pull a value from another table using a matching key.
- Handle missing matches with the if-not-found argument.
- Explain what VLOOKUP is, since older files still use it.

## Teaching notes
Example: look up each employee's hourly rate from a staff table to calculate pay. XLOOKUP works in current Excel and in Google Sheets.

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.

## When the lesson is done
The lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed above. Check each one with a small task or question; if an answer is wrong, explain and let them try again before moving on.
When every outcome is covered:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson 9 complete: Finding data with XLOOKUP."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Working with text and dates" (lesson 10 of 20), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/excel-for-work/working-with-text-and-dates.md. Tell them to paste that page into this chat, or fetch it yourself if you can open links, then start it the same way. Do not start teaching the next lesson's topic until the learner has it.

Previous lesson: Conditional totals: SUMIFS and COUNTIFS
Next lesson: Working with text and dates