By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated June 2026 A case interview is a job interview, used by consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, in which you solve a realistic business problem out loud while the interviewer scores your structuring, problem-solving, analytics, math, business judgment, and communication. A single case runs about…
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By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated September 2026 The McKinsey case interview, which the firm calls the Problem-Solving Interview, is an interviewer-led business case: the interviewer drives the questions, hands you the data you need, and scores you against a standardized rubric while you structure the problem, run the math, and build…
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By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated September 2026 The McKinsey application process runs through five stages: an online application with a CV screen, the McKinsey Solve assessment, first-round interviews (cases plus the Personal Experience Interviews), second-round partner interviews, and the offer. End to end it usually takes one to three months, and…
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By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant. Updated September 24, 2026. Ask anyone to name the top consulting firms and you get the same three back: McKinsey, BCG, and Bain. Yet most candidates cannot say what truly separates them, and that gap shows up in their applications and their interview answers. The Big 3 consulting…
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By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated June 2026 The McKinsey PEI (Personal Experience Interview) is the behavioral half of the McKinsey interview, and it counts for as much as the case. Most candidates spend 95% of their prep on the case and treat the PEI as an afterthought. That is exactly why…
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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.
