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Welcome to the Clearly Podcast. The podcast is taking a break for a few weeks due to another project, and upon return, there will be exciting news. Today's discussion revisits what it takes to be a Power BI consultant, focusing on the necessary skills and qualities.

Experience with Power BI is valuable, but not mandatory for juniors. Key qualities include consulting skills, analytics, business experience, understanding data, and articulating it clearly. Being able to work with senior people to address business processes is also essential.

For those fresh out of college or university, it's important to have a grasp of business fundamentals and good Q&A skills. Graduates often have skills in algorithms and data science. Conversing with business users to understand their challenges and developing solutions is crucial.

The role of a Power BI consultant now often includes elements of data engineering, data warehousing, or machine learning. It’s important to have a broader knowledge of the data landscape. Employers should seek a mix of skills rather than expertise in every area.

For someone starting, understanding data engineering and data modeling is key. Learning to build models that others can use and gaining experience in visualizing data is important. Download Power BI, use public datasets, and practice.

Knowing how to find information about connectors for other applications is crucial. Being able to get back to clients with accurate information is essential.

During interviews, honesty about skills is important. People often claim more experience than they have. Private projects show initiative and learning and should not be dismissed.

There is high demand for roles, especially for those who understand the entire Microsoft stack. Consultants should keep their knowledge up to date through communities, podcasts, and continual learning.

For aspiring consultants, working on side projects and learning new skills is beneficial. Employers appreciate self-starters who take initiative.

The podcast will return with exciting news after the break. Thank you for listening and stay tuned for more insights.

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