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What does a freelance Microsoft Power BI specialist do?

Microsoft Power BI is designed to integrate with other business software and communications channels to foster communication and collaboration. Freelance Microsoft Power BI specialists are typically responsible for gathering and configuring data, creating scalable data models, cleaning and transforming data, and providing meaningful data visualizations to help drive business value.

The freelance Microsoft Power BI specialist uses a combination of design and data analysis to create informative dashboards that are easily understood by internal or external audiences. These visualizations summarize complex information in an attractive way. This data provides insight into things such as business trends, market opportunities, operational performance, and competitive intelligence.

What skills do I need to become a freelance Microsoft Power BI specialist?

To become a freelance Microsoft Power BI specialist you need to have a high comfort level working with data in a variety of formats. Although freelancers working with large amounts of data tend to be strong in left-brain skills such as math and logic, those with strengths in right-brain, creative work can also develop a career as a Microsoft Power BI specialist.

A number of skills are common among Microsoft Power BI specialists, including:

• Expertise in Microsoft Power BI Desktop
• Proficiency in analyzing data
• Aptitude for data gathering and configuration
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills
• Understanding of business principles
• Strong attention to detail
• Advanced presentation skills

What are the core freelance Microsoft Power BI specialist job responsibilities?

Clients hiring freelance Microsoft Power BI specialists look for certain capabilities to ensure the candidates can accomplish a number of required tasks. Microsoft Power BI isn't the only business intelligence software on the market; other solutions include Tableau, SAP BusinessObjects, Zoho Analytics, and SAS Business Intelligence, just to name a few.

While the responsibilities for Microsoft Power BI specialists may vary based on the client, the industry, and the specific purpose of the work, some tasks are commonly listed in project postings. These include:

• Collaborate with supervisors, business analysts, and key stakeholders to gather information regarding data requirements, output requirements, features, and internal and external controls
• Connect to data sources and perform data transformations, modeling, and visualizing data by using Microsoft Power BI Desktop
• Define designs, tests, and distribution of dashboard reports
• Ensure accuracy and quality of all data being gathered and used within dashboard reports
• Lead resolutions regarding errors and other issues when configuring dashboards and reports
• Maintain documentation of alterations to solutions and specifications related to the data being shared
• Provide technical support to others using Microsoft Power BI
• Maintain a proactive mindset and anticipate report requirements from other departments
• Maintain excellent time and request management processes

Should I get a degree or certification in order to become a freelance Microsoft Power BI specialist?

In addition to developing your skills, obtaining a degree and/or professional certification can help your Upwork profile stand out. As with many other professional areas of concentration, a degree from an accredited college or university can go a long way in positioning you for long-term success. In addition to teaching you specifically about business intelligence and data, earning a university degree can expose you to statistics, accounting, entrepreneurship, marketing, and other areas related to configuring business intelligence reports.

Obtaining a certificate as a Data Analyst associate indicates that you’ve gone the extra mile to learn as much as possible about Microsoft Power BI. Popular degrees or certifications that could be helpful in your career as a Microsoft Power BI specialist include:

• Associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s in business administration, statistics, computer science, or management information systems
• Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate