Updated July 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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By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated June 15, 2026 “Tell me about yourself” sounds easy, so most candidates wing it and ramble through their resume in chronological order. That is a wasted opening. It is the first 60 to 90 seconds of your consulting interview, it sets the interviewer’s impression before the…
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By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated June 2026 Case interview brainstorming asks you to generate ideas (usually the causes of a problem or the options to solve it) out loud, and it tests structured creativity: the interviewer grades whether your ideas are broad, deep, organized into MECE buckets, and insightful, not how…
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Updated July 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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By Florian Smeritschnig, former McKinsey Senior Consultant · Updated June 2026 The case interview dress code at McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and other top firms is conservative business formal: a well-fitted suit in navy, charcoal, or grey, a crisp white or light-blue shirt or blouse, and polished closed-toe leather shoes. When in doubt, overdress. Here is the…
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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.
