Simon Kucher - Associate Consultant suggestions

Hi Dario,

Thanks for your great questions—it's smart to think through these details upfront. While I can't speak to Simon-Kucher's internal process, I'm happy to share some general consulting insights and my direct perspective on moving to MBB later on.

On case prep: since SK is the world's pricing leader, definitely lean into pricing cases, but be ready for other types too (like market entry or growth). They're really testing your problem-solving foundation.

Your background is strong! With your renewables project management experience and finance MSc, you've got a great story. I'd recommend stating your preferences clearly while showing flexibility—it's a good look.

A few quick points on your other questions: salary negotiation can be tricky for first-time consultants, but it doesn't hurt to try. Work-life balance at SK is generally better than at MBB, though it's still consulting—it varies by project.

Regarding a future move to MBB: I have direct insight here as I was an EM and was involed at recruiting at McKinsey. From my experience, moving from a strong specialist firm like SK to McKinsey is a possible path in Europe. You would typically move laterally into a BA/Associate role (exact requirements vary by office). It is rare to move upwards to EM directly, as most EMs are promoted internally—but not impossible.

Hope this helps. Good with your application!

Kateryna

Hi Dario, 

Happy to provide a perspective, especially since I worked with candidates preparing for SK before. Let me take your Qs one by one. 

• Should I focus more on pricing cases than the other “types” of cases?
  • Are you applying for a generalist role or are you interviewing to join a specific practice within SK? This will influence the recruitment process. To put your concerns to rest, it's best if you validate this directly with the recruiter.  
• I’ve been working as a Project Manager in Renewables for 2.5 years and I’m completing an EDHEC MSc in Finance. How would they decide where to place me? Should I state my preferences?
  • When you say 'place me', do you mean in which projects? Again this depends on whether you're joining as a generalist consultant or affiliated to a practice. Esp in the beginning, typically, you're staffed on any project that is willing to take you. And that's because you don't yet have a clear value proposition and you're still learning to navigate the firm and the role. With time, you get more of a say.
• Do you think it’s possible to negotiate salary even if this would be my first real experience in consulting?
  • Salaries tend to be set at role band level. Meaning, you can't negotiate the base. You can sometimes negotiate the bonus (relocation or signing) if your office provides one.
• How is the work-life balance in SK?
  • Overall I've heard good things. As in, within the same ballpark as other similar consulting firms. If anything, I would say Italian consulting offices are known for long hours, but this is more of a geographical/cultural factor than anything else. 

And yes, you can pivot to MBB afterwards. Make sure that you collect good use cases in the meantime for the impact that you helped bring to clients. These will be the stories on which you build your case for MBB. 

If you need any help with the prep, feel free to reach out and I can walk you through how I worked with other candidates with your situation.

Best,
Cristian

Hi Dario,

Simon-Kucher is a solid choice and your background fits well. A few thoughts on each of your questions:

Yes, you should definitely spend extra time on pricing cases. SK interviews still include general strategy and profitability thinking, but pricing logic, willingness to pay, breakeven, and trade-offs are core to how they assess candidates. Being comfortable structuring pricing problems is a real differentiator.

With 2.5 years in project management and an EDHEC MSc in Finance, you’d likely be assessed as an Associate Consultant with some credit for prior experience. Placement is usually decided internally based on interview performance and office needs, but you can signal interests informally during interviews. It’s less about a formal track and more about staffing over time.

Salary negotiation is possible but typically limited for entry-level consulting roles. Your prior experience and finance background can help at the margin, but SK tends to be structured on bands. It’s reasonable to ask, but expectations should be realistic.

Work-life balance at SK is generally better than MBB, though it varies by office and project. Pricing projects can still be intense, but travel is often lighter and hours more predictable on average.

Moving from Simon-Kucher to MBB is feasible and happens, especially after a few years. Title alignment can look like a “step back” on paper (e.g., Manager to Consultant), but firms focus more on skills and scope than titles. It’s not viewed negatively if the move makes sense and your story is clear.

For pricing case prep, look for Simon-Kucher interview experiences, pricing-specific case books, and any material focused on willingness to pay, value-based pricing, and revenue optimization. 

Also, happy to help you practice these types of cases - feel free to reach out.

Best,
Evelina

Simon-Kucher is a great target, especially given your finance background and project experience—that combination is highly valued. It shows functional depth and execution capability, which immediately sets you apart from pure pre-experience candidates.

You should absolutely focus on pricing and revenue optimization cases. SK’s core identity is built on this expertise, and while they do take on broader growth strategy and commercial projects, they screen candidates primarily for their comfort level with economic modeling, elasticity, and value capture. You have enough experience that you should state your preference (e.g., Energy/Renewables or Financial Services, leveraging your EDHEC degree) during the interview process. SK is generally receptive to aligning people with relevant sectors, but your final placement will depend on current team headcount needs in Milan.

Regarding compensation and the workload: Negotiation is always possible, but for a standard Associate Consultant role, the negotiation ceiling is often constrained by the firm’s standard band for that specific experience level. Focus more on the total compensation package (base, bonus structure, relocation). Work-life balance at SK is generally viewed as better than MBB, but you are still in consulting—expect periods of intense, project-driven travel and 50–60 hour weeks.

The exit strategy to MBB is definitely feasible and common. Do not let the title progression worry you. Consulting titles are not universal currency. When you move from SK to MBB, they rarely grant you a one-to-one title match; they focus on your total years of professional experience and your performance trajectory. An SK Manager moving to MBB often lands as an experienced Consultant or an early Project Leader, depending on tenure. This is not a downgrade; it is a lateral move into a different tier of the market where the titles scale differently. Your specialization in pricing makes you a highly attractive lateral hire for MBB teams that need deep functional expertise.

Hope it helps!

hi Dario! 

Applying to Simon-Kucher (SK) in Milan is a smart move, especially with your background in renewables and finance. 

The Interview: Is it all pricing?

Yes. While you might get a standard profitability case, you should expect a heavy tilt toward pricing and revenue growth.

• Beyond the Basics: Don't just talk about "cost-plus" pricing. SK expects you to discuss value-based pricing, segmentation, and willingness-to-pay (WTP).
• Frameworks to Master: Study "Price Elasticity," "Price Cascades," and "Portfolio Optimization" (e.g., how to price a new premium product without cannibalizing the cheap one).
• The "So What": SK partners care about the "commercial instinct." They want to see if you understand how a 1% price increase affects the bottom line differently than a 1% volume increase.

Placement

With 2.5 years in Renewables and an MSc from EDHEC, you are in a "gray zone" between Associate Consultant (entry-level) and Consultant (one level up).

• Seniority: Usually, 0–2 years of experience leads to the Associate level. Since you have 2.5 years plus a specialized Master’s, you should aim for the Consultant role
• Preferences: You should state your preference for the "Energy" or "Industrials" practice. Your renewables experience is a high-value asset, and consulting firms prefer to put people where they have "subject matter expertise."

Salary

In the Milan consulting market, entry-level salaries are relatively standardized to maintain internal equity.

• The Reality: Total compensation for an entry-level role in Italy typically ranges from €40k to €50k plus a performance bonus.
• Negotiation Levers: You likely won't move the base salary significantly, but you can negotiate a signing bonus or a relocation allowance, especially if you have competing offers or can prove that your 2.5 years of experience justifies a "higher bracket" start.

Work life balance

• The Industry Standard: It’s consulting. Expect 50–60 hour weeks as a baseline
• The Milan Office: Italy's consulting culture is known for being "high-intensity." You will likely work late (often until 8:00 or 9:00 PM), but SK is generally considered slightly better than MBB because they have fewer "operational turnaround" projects that require 24/7 on-site presence

The "Exit" to MBB

Moving from SK to McKinsey, BCG, or Bain is very feasible, but you must understand the "Title Recalibration.

• The "Downgrade" Myth: If an SK Manager moves to an MBB as a "Senior Consultant," it is not a downgrade. MBB roles are broader and their "Manager" level carries immense P&L and sales responsibility
• The Specialization Edge: MBB firms often hire from SK specifically for their Marketing & Sales or Pricing practices. You wouldn't be a generalist; you'd be their "pricing expert."

Pricing cases

• besides - SK Insights: Go to the Simon-Kucher "Insights" page. They publish case studies that are literally the prompts they use in interviews
• PrepLounge/CaseBasix: Look specifically for "Value-based pricing" or "Revenue Management" cases.
• The "Monetizing Innovation" Book: Written by SK partners. It is essentially the "bible" of the firm. Reading the first few chapters will give you the exact vocabulary they use in interviews.