Author: Florian Smeritschnig

the image is the cover for an article on the top 10 consulting firms in the middle east

Top 10 Consulting Firms in the Middle East: Ranking & Insights

The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world and at the time of writing (January 2023) one of the very few areas where recruiting for top-tier consulting firms has not slowed down. In this article, I want to provide an overview of the top 10 consulting firms and their work in…
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the image is the cover for an article on consulting recruiting slowdown and hiring freeze

Consulting Recruiting in 2023: Slowdown or Freeze? (2024 Update)

One of the most common concerns I currently read across all consulting job boards and discuss with my clients is that everyone feels the slowdown in hiring with firms such as McKinsey, BCG, and Bain. On top of that, I see decreasing activity in article views, and coaching requests (not just myself but colleagues as…
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the image is the cover for an article on the future of the consulting industry

The Future of Consulting: McKinsey, BCG, and Bain Outlook

The consulting industry with its top players McKinsey, BCG, and Bain has always been a rapidly evolving field that is constantly adapting to meet the changing needs of businesses and organizations, and on the other hand, also driving part of that change (e.g., McKinsey with the invention of the bar code). As technology continues to…
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the image is the cover for an article on passing the consulting screening process for applicants

How to Get Into Consulting: The 2026 Guide to McKinsey, BCG & Bain

Updated June 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant To get into consulting at McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, you have to clear four gates in order: a screened resume and cover letter, online assessments like the McKinsey Solve game, and the case and fit interviews (usually two rounds). Fewer than 1% of applicants…
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Consulting interview cover image showing a candidate and interviewer in a modern office, with balanced strength and weakness icons and the title “Strengths and Weaknesses in a Consulting Interview (With Example Answers).”

Strengths and Weaknesses in a Consulting Interview (With Example Answers)

By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated June 15, 2026 The strengths and weaknesses questions feel easy, so candidates answer them lazily, with a generic strength and a fake weakness like “I’m a perfectionist.” That answer quietly costs them. In a consulting interview, this is a self-awareness and authenticity screen: name one relevant…
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