By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant. Updated September 2026. Will AI replace junior consultants? No, not the role, but yes, much of the old entry-level task list. AI handles the research, data work, and slide drafting that once filled a junior’s first year and built their judgment. Firms still hire juniors, but they expect…
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Updated July 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant The McKinsey Keep In Touch Program (KIT) is a re-engagement invitation McKinsey extends to candidates who came close to an offer but did not make it, typically due to a near-miss case, a borderline PEI, an experience gap, or timing within the recruiting cycle.…
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Updated July 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant The practical consulting GPA requirement for McKinsey, BCG, and Bain in 2026 is 3.5 / 4.0 at a US target school, with the competitive zone for interview invitations starting at 3.7+. McKinsey publicly guides candidates toward “top decile of your class,” which translates to…
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By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated July 2026 Yes, you can join McKinsey, BCG, or Bain as an experienced hire, and a large, growing share of every office is exactly that. You apply laterally, outside the campus cycle, and you enter at a level set by your experience: roughly the post-MBA Consultant…
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Updated July 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant The MBB consulting ban period (also called the “cool-off period” or “reapplication policy”) is the time you must wait after a rejection before applying again to the same firm. McKinsey enforces a 18-24-month ban. BCG enforces 12 months for undergraduate / Master’s candidates and…
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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.
