Case Interview Hub Blog

How do you actually get into McKinsey, BCG, or Bain? Former McKinsey interviewers break down the full process — from CV screening to problem solving games to the final case interviews — and explain what each firm's process looks like step by step.

Fancy templates, generic buzzwords, and the completeness trap — these three CV mistakes get more candidates rejected at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain than anything else. Former McKinsey interviewers explain what goes wrong and how to fix it fast.

80% of candidates never make it past the CV screening at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain. Former McKinsey consultants and interviewers break down the four-section structure, the impact-focused writing method, and the mistakes that get you rejected instantly.

How much does it actually cost to hire McKinsey, BCG, or Bain? Former McKinsey consultants break down the three fee models, actual per-diem rates by seniority level, and what a typical 8-week MBB project costs — with numbers from real proposals.

GenZ demands work-life balance, flexible hours, and meaningful work. Consulting demands 12-hour days, all-nighters, and results for $150K a week. Former McKinsey consultants break down where the cultures clash — and whether it can actually work.

Is a career at McKinsey, BCG, or Bain still worth it? Former McKinsey consultants break down the financial and non-financial benefits, the real downsides, and exit opportunities — so you can decide for yourself whether MBB consulting is the right move.

How can a 22-year-old advise Fortune 500 CEOs? Short answer: they don't — at least not alone. Former McKinsey consultants walk through what a typical week actually looks like, from Monday morning check-ins to Thursday evening flights home.

You exited consulting for a better lifestyle. But nobody warned you about the freeloaders, the slow pace, the corporate politics, and the disappearing support systems. Former McKinsey consultants share the 6 things that hit hardest after leaving MBB.

How many hours do MBB consultants actually work? We break down three real sample weeks — a great week (54 hours), a typical week (67 hours), and a week from hell (100 hours) — plus the drivers and red flags that determine which one you get.

Job cuts, beached consultants, delayed promotions. The consulting industry has been in a slump since 2023 — and 2025 brought a fresh wave of layoffs. Former McKinsey consultants explain what's really going on at MBB and whether consulting is dying.

How much do consultants at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain actually earn? We break down salaries from fresh business analyst to senior partner — in both the US and Germany — and explain the "MBB salary trap" that makes it so hard to leave consulting.

How do you actually get staffed on projects at McKinsey, BCG, or Bain? We break down the official models, the four factors that really determine where you end up, the "staffing black market" nobody talks about, and how it all changes as you get more senior.

Many people wonder what the difference in corporate culture at McKinsey, BCG and Bain. There are many wild claims out there that each MBB firm hires specific types of people. Or that they uses certain approaches unique to their: for example BCG uses adaptive problem solving and McKinsey is more structured. But this is all nonsense. In reality, the culture at McKinsey, BCG and Bain is very similar. This is driven by the fact that the MBB firms serve teh same clients and hire t

The exit opportunities at the MBB firms (McKinsey, BCG & Bain) but also at Tier 2 firms (Strategy&, Oliver Wyman, Arthur D Little) are endless. The most common exit is definitely to corporates - especially to former clients. It makes perfect sense for clients to hire a consultant they worked with in the past as they have proof of their work. Other very common exits are to Private Equity and to start-ups. But there are also uncommon routes like politics or straight into retire

McKinsey, BCG, and Bain are notorious for the up-or-out principle. So the fact that people get fired if they don't progress in the career ladder. In reality, most people leave consulting on their own terms and only a minority is getting laid-off. So the up-or-out principle is a thing but it is rarely executed.