Updated September 2026. By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant. Consulting vs investment banking is the classic two-offer dilemma, and here is the short answer: choose consulting if you want broader exit options, more varied work, and a schedule you can mostly live with; choose investment banking if you want maximum pay in your first…
Read more
Updated July 2026. By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant. An online case interview is a normal consulting case interview run over video, almost always on Zoom, and the firm scores it with the exact same criteria it uses in person: your structure, your math, and how clearly you communicate. What changes is everything around…
Read more
Updated August 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant Bain & Company has six career levels: Associate Consultant, Consultant, Manager, Associate Partner, Partner, and Senior Partner. A first-year Associate Consultant in the US earns roughly $140,000 total compensation in 2026, climbing to $230,000 as a post-MBA Consultant, $360,000 as an Associate Partner, and…
Read more
Updated August 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant A first-year BCG Associate in the US earns roughly $140,000 total compensation in 2026, climbing to $240,000 as a post-MBA Consultant, $410,000 as a Principal, and $500,000 to $1.2 million+ at the Partner and Senior Partner levels. Below is the full Boston Consulting Group…
Read more
Updated August 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant A first-year Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company in the US earns roughly $140,000 total compensation in 2026, climbing to $245,000 as a post-MBA Associate, $290,000 as an Engagement Manager, $420,000 as an Associate Partner, and $500,000 to $1.2 million+ at the Partner and…
Read more
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.
