10 warning signs, DAX depth tests, Fabric knowledge checklist, governance capabilities, semantic model expertise verification.
Last updated by Errin O'Connor, Founder & Chief AI Architect, EPC Group
10 red flags when hiring a Power BI consultant: cannot articulate Fabric readiness vs staying on Premium, DAX examples show junior skill (CALCULATE+FILTER instead of variables), no governance mention, no semantic model vocabulary, no Microsoft Solutions Partner Data & AI designation. Test DAX depth via 5 scenarios (running total, EARLIER vs LOOKUPVALUE, rolling 12mo, MEASURE vs COLUMN, optimization). Verify credentials via PL-300/DP-500/DP-600/DP-700 certifications + named case studies at your scale. EPC Group Power BI fixed-fee: Health Check / Foundation / Enterprise Rollout, each scoped after discovery.
Ten red flags: (1) Cannot articulate Fabric readiness vs staying on Premium — signals shallow modernization understanding. (2) Recommends Import mode when Direct Lake fits — signals outdated methodology. (3) DAX examples all use CALCULATE + FILTER instead of variables + iterators — signals junior skill. (4) Cannot name specific customers in your industry at your scale. (5) Proposes T&M with no cap or milestone gate. (6) Talks about "dashboards" instead of "semantic models" — signals report-builder mindset, not architect. (7) No mention of governance / row-level security / sensitivity labels. (8) Cannot demonstrate DAX Studio, Tabular Editor, or ALM Toolkit workflows. (9) Uses stock Power BI templates for the demo. (10) Claims Microsoft Solutions Partner without a Data & AI designation.
Five DAX test scenarios: (1) Write a running total that resets by year. Should use SUMX + variables, not CALCULATE + FILTER. (2) Explain the difference between EARLIER, LOOKUPVALUE, and RELATED. Novice can't; senior explains context transition. (3) Build a rolling 12-month calculation. Should use DATESINPERIOD, not manual filter. (4) Explain when to use MEASURE vs CALCULATED COLUMN. Junior confuses them. (5) Optimize a slow measure — show the DAX Studio + Server Timings workflow. If they cannot demonstrate all five in a technical interview, they are not a senior Power BI consultant.
Six Fabric expertise areas: (1) F-SKU sizing (F2-F2048, workload multipliers, PAYG vs RI economics). (2) Direct Lake mode (when to use vs Import vs DirectQuery; Import-comparable performance, no refresh copy). (3) OneLake shortcuts + medallion architecture. (4) Fabric Data Engineering (notebooks, Spark, Delta tables). (5) Real-Time Intelligence + Data Activator. (6) Migration from Power BI Premium P-SKUs to Fabric F-SKUs. A consultant who cannot articulate all six in 2026 is a Power BI report-builder, not a Fabric architect.
Seven governance capabilities: (1) Row-level security implementation + testing methodology. (2) Object-level security for regulated data. (3) Sensitivity label deployment on datasets + reports. (4) Workspace lifecycle (Dev → Test → Prod deployment pipelines). (5) Dataset endorsement (Promoted / Certified) workflow. (6) Capacity monitoring + right-sizing. (7) Purview integration for lineage + data catalog. Ask for a real customer example of each; senior consultants will have examples in hand.
Six semantic model competencies: (1) Star schema design (facts + dimensions, not snowflake). (2) Composite models (Import + DirectQuery). (3) Aggregation tables for query performance. (4) Calculation groups for time intelligence. (5) Field parameters for user-driven analysis. (6) Model measure organization + naming conventions. Junior consultants build "dashboards" (visuals bolted onto queries). Senior consultants build "semantic models" (governed data platform for many consumers).
Four verification steps: (1) Microsoft certifications — PL-300 (basic), DP-500 (senior), DP-600 (Fabric analytics engineer), DP-700 (Fabric data engineer). Ask for the certificate number + verify at learn.microsoft.com/verify. (2) Solutions Partner Data & AI designation — check partner.microsoft.com/en-us/solution-providers. (3) Community + open-source contribution — Power BI User Groups, status, DAX Studio contributions. (4) Named case studies — 3+ enterprise customers at your scale with public references.
EPC Group Power BI fixed-fee accelerators: (1) Power BI Health Check (fixed fee, 2 weeks) — assess current tenant, identify governance gaps, quick-win recommendations. (2) Power BI Foundation Deployment (fixed fee, 6 weeks) — governance framework, Center of Excellence structure, first semantic model. (3) Power BI Enterprise Rollout (12-16 weeks, fixed fee quoted after discovery) — multi-workspace deployment, RLS, sensitivity labels, deployment pipelines. (4) Power BI to Fabric Migration (8-12 weeks, quoted after discovery) — P-SKU to F-SKU cutover, Direct Lake enablement, ROI reporting. Founder Errin O'Connor is a 4x bestselling author (Microsoft Press / Sams) on Power BI + Microsoft data platforms.
2-week fixed-fee assessment, quoted after a scoping call, identifies governance gaps + quick wins. Call (888) 381-9725.
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