By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated July 2026 The consulting job market in 2026 is doing two contradictory things at once: firms are cutting thousands of roles while simultaneously expanding entry-level hiring. McKinsey has taken its headcount from a 2022 peak above 45,000 down to roughly 40,000, and in the same breath…
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By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated July 2026 You get promoted in consulting by doing next-level work before you have the next-level title, and by earning a sponsor who argues for you when you are not in the room. The formal review only confirms a decision that staffing and hallway conversations already…
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By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated July 2026 Your first 90 days in consulting break into three phases: days 1-30 you learn the firm’s system and earn trust, days 31-60 you deliver real work and get visible, and days 61-90 you prove you belong at the next level. Nail that arc and…
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Updated May 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant McKinsey, BCG, and Bain each run pre-MBA recruiting programs in 2026 that introduce incoming MBA students to the firm before their first year begins. The current program architecture is: McKinsey Early Access and Inspire; BCG Unlock and Empower; and Bain ExperienceBain and BASE. These…
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Updated May 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant MIT Sloan places 70-90 students at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain each year, roughly 20-25% of the graduating MBA class per the MIT Sloan MBA Employment Report, ranking among the top US MBB feeder programs by conversion rate even though the absolute placement volume is…
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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.
