Updated May 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant A first-year Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company in the US earns roughly $140,000 total compensation in 2026, climbing to $245,000 as a post-MBA Associate, $290,000 as an Engagement Manager, $420,000 as an Associate Partner, and $500,000 to $1.2 million+ at the Partner and…
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When answering the question “Tell me about yourself” in a consulting interview for McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, it’s important to provide a brief overview of your professional background and qualifications. This is your opportunity to highlight your most relevant experiences and skills and to show how they make you a good fit for the job.…
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Brainstorming is where I see many candidates lose their consulting offers. In moments where the interviewer asks question such as, “What are all the reasons this plant might be underperforming?” and the candidate starts rattling off disconnected ideas without structure. That one moment decides a lot. After 5 years at McKinsey and 700+ candidates coached…
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Updated May 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant A consulting coffee chat is a 25 to 45 minute informal conversation with a consultant (typically Senior Associate, Engagement Manager, or Partner) at McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or another consulting firm, used by the firm to assess your fit and used by you to learn…
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When you finally show up for your case interview with McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, you don’t want anything to be left to chance. Apart from the skills you display in the case interview and the fit interview, it is all about your appearance and preparedness on the big interview day. These interviews are not just…
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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.
