Updated May 6, 2026 | By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant The Oliver Wyman fit interview, called a “conversational” interview, fools candidates into walking in underprepared. The format is more relaxed than a McKinsey PEI. The scoring isn’t. Every question you answer maps to a specific evaluation dimension, and weak answers in the conversational…
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For top-tier consultants with firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, leadership skills are not just valuable but essential. Consultants are often at the forefront of driving change, solving complex problems, and guiding teams through uncharted territories to achieve ambitious goals. This requires a unique blend of strategic vision, interpersonal skills, and the ability to motivate…
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Updated June 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant Post-interview thank-you notes in consulting will not win you any offers, and they will not rescue a weak interview performance. In structured recruiting at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, your result is decided in a scored debrief among the people who evaluated you, usually within…
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Updated May 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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Updated June 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant The BCG Real Life interview is an experiential, role-play round used mainly in Boston Consulting Group‘s German-speaking offices, where the interviewer acts out a realistic work situation, a tense client, a frustrated teammate, a skeptical partner, and you have to handle it live, in…
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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.
