Management consulting firms fall into four types: strategy firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, plus Tier-2 players like Kearney and Oliver Wyman), full-service giants (the Big 4 and Accenture), boutique specialists, and small independent consultancies. Most candidates only ever look at the first type. That is a mistake. I spent 5 years at McKinsey as a Senior…
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Updated July 2026. By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant. Companies hire management consultants to rent expertise, senior problem-solving capacity, and an unbiased outside view they can’t build fast enough in-house. Not because their own people aren’t smart. Why companies hire management consultants is often misunderstood. In five years at McKinsey, I never once saw…
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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.
