Updated May 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…
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In the dynamic field of consulting, starting on the right foot can make all the difference in carving out a successful career. Whether you’re an aspiring consultant eager to make your mark in McKinsey, BCG, Bain or a seasoned professional looking to refine your approach, once you have passed the screening stages, preparation for the…
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Initially, most candidates I coach for McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and other firms struggle with communicating effectively during the case interview. In fact, their communication issues hamper their performance. They could be brilliant in terms of their analytics and insights generation yet lack the effective tools to bring their points across. In this article, I want…
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Consulting case interviews are the primary selection tool used by firms like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain & Company (colloquially called the MBBs), as well as many other strategy and management consulting firms, to assess how candidates think, solve problems, and communicate under pressure. In a case interview, you work through a…
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I sat together with Mohammad Misbah, @theconsultingguy, on his Consulting Podcast to discuss the current trends in the industry and recruiting. We spoke about: Check out his channel and the video below or find it on Spotify: For other consulting-related interviews, check out Mohammad’s Youtube channel. For a free 1:1 consultation with Florian, please schedule…
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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.
