Updated September 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant A Big 4 case interview is shorter, less framework-driven, and more conversational than an MBB case. Each of the firms runs two versions of it: a demanding strategy-arm case at Monitor Deloitte, EY-Parthenon, and Strategy&, and a lighter core-consulting case everywhere else. Which one you get…
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By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated September 2026 Management consulting is the business of solving a company’s hardest problems from the outside, usually as a time-boxed project with a defined question, a small dedicated team, and a recommendation delivered to senior management at the end. That’s the definition. Here’s the part the textbooks…
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Updated September 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant An AI consultant in the US earns between roughly $95,000 and $300,000 in total compensation in 2026, and the range is that wide because “AI consultant” describes four different jobs, not one. Search the term and you get one blended average from job boards. It’s the…
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Updated September 2026. By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant Consulting interviews ask four kinds of questions (and give you the chance to ask thoughtful questions too): motivation and fit, behavioral stories, case questions, firm-specific formats such as the McKinsey PEI and the BCG Skills Interview, and the questions you ask them. The list below covers…
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Updated September 2026. By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant Tier 2 consulting firms are the strategy firms that sit directly below McKinsey, BCG, and Bain: Oliver Wyman, L.E.K. Consulting, Kearney, and Roland Berger as independents, Strategy&, EY-Parthenon, and Monitor Deloitte as corporate-owned strategy arms. The problem with that answer is that it treats a dozen…
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Florian spent five years at McKinsey as a Senior Consultant and is a highly experienced consulting interviewer and problem-solving coach. Having conducted interviews with hundreds of candidates, he understands exactly what top-tier firms look for in successful applicants.
He founded StrategyCase.com to make top consulting careers more accessible by providing tailored, up-to-date insights into the recruiting process. Recognized as the most successful case and fit interview coach, Florian has helped his clients secure 700+ offers at MBB, Tier-2 firms, Big 4 consulting divisions, in-house consultancies, and boutique firms over the past four years.
He is the author of “The 1%: Conquer Your Consulting Case Interview,” “The 1%: Case Interview Workbook,” and “Consulting Career Secrets”, all available on Amazon.
