Category: Consulting Career

How consulting projects are staffed and how consultants can secure the projects they want.

How Consulting Projects Are Staffed (and How to Get the Ones You Want)

By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant. Updated July 14, 2026. Consulting projects are staffed like an internal job market: a staffing coordinator or staffing team matches available consultants to incoming client projects based on skills, availability, and development needs, while the partner running the project lobbies for the people they want on their team.…
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Management Consulting Pros and Cons: An Honest Insider’s View

By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant. Updated July 14, 2026. Management consulting pros and cons are a steep learning curve, top pay from day one, an elite network, and exit options that open almost any door while working 55 to 80-hour weeks with heavy travel, relentless deadline pressure, and little control over your own…
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StrategyCase.com cover showing an entry-level consultant working on a laptop, analyzing charts, and collaborating with a team.

What Do Entry-Level Consultants Actually Do All Day?

By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant. Updated July 2026. Entry-level consultants spend most of their week on four repeating tasks: collecting data, analyzing it, turning the answer into slides, and presenting it to clients. Almost everything else is a variation on that loop. You accepted the offer, and now you’re not quite sure what…
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StrategyCase.com cover showing a young consultant climbing steps toward career growth and success.

Your First Year in Consulting: 9 Insider Rules to Survive and Stand Out

By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant. Updated July 2026. Your first year in consulting is judged less on raw intelligence than on four things: how visible you are, how much ownership you take, how error-free your work is, and how fast you learn. Get those right and you will do well at McKinsey, BCG,…
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