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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By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated July 2026 Working at McKinsey in 2026 means roughly 55 to 70 hours in a normal week, two to three days a week at a client site, and a job where AI now does most of the research and first-draft slide work that used to fill…
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Updated June 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant The McKinsey Solve Game, the firm’s assessment tool, is now an 85-minute, three-module test that filters out roughly 75-80% of candidates before they ever speak to a consultant. Red Rock, Sea Wolf, and the new Sustainable Future Lab all track process signals behind every…
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Updated July 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant Consulting networking is the year-long process of building relationships with current consultants at McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and other target firms so that by the time you formally apply, you have at least one referral, multiple internal advocates, and direct insight into the office and…
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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.
