Consulting case interviews are the primary selection tool used by firms like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain & Company (colloquially called the MBBs), as well as many other strategy and management consulting firms, to assess how candidates think, solve problems, and communicate under pressure. In a case interview, you work through a…
Read more
The McKinsey case interview, also called the Problem-Solving Interview by the firm, is a crucial and defining element of the consulting recruitment process for one of the world’s most prestigious management consulting firms. This unique type of interview assesses a candidate’s analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, as well as their ability to think critically under…
Read more
A case interview framework is a case-specific roadmap you build at the start of the interview to break a business problem into testable components. Most candidates treat frameworks as memorized templates to plug into whatever case they get. That’s exactly why 99% fail at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain. Interviewers at top firms are trained to…
Read more
Updated May 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant A referral for McKinsey, BCG, or Bain is an explicit endorsement from a current consultant submitted alongside (or in advance of) your application, telling the recruiting team this candidate is worth a closer look. A strong MBB referral lifts your screening odds by 2-4x,…
Read more
Updated June 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant A consulting cover letter is a one-page, 250-to-400-word document that proves three things: you fit the consultant profile, you understand the specific firm, and you can write clearly under your own name. As of 2026, McKinsey and BCG make the cover letter optional for…
Read more
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.
