Florian
Ex-McKinsey | 700+ offers for my clients | 1,600+ 5-star reviews across platforms | Top case interview book on Amazon
Case Interview Mastery
Fit Interview and PEI Hacking
From Junior to Experienced Hires up to Partner Level
English, German
Austria (UTC +1)
USD 399 / h
Ex-McKinsey | 700+ offers for my clients | 1,600+ 5-star reviews across platforms | Top case interview book on Amazon
Case Interview Mastery
Fit Interview and PEI Hacking
From Junior to Experienced Hires up to Partner Level
USD 399 / h
Statistics
Content Creator
1,515 Coachings
40,246 Q&A Upvotes
212 Awards

Welcome to my PrepLounge profile!

Hi, I’m Florian.

I help ambitious candidates get offers from top consulting firms with a skill-based approach to case and fit interviews, and the track record to back it up.

Since I left McKinsey, I’ve built StrategyCase.com into one of the largest consulting-prep ecosystems worldwide. Through this work, my coaching clients have secured 700+ verified offers, including 190 at McKinsey, the most selective firm to break into. 

-> Learn more about my approach, 95%+ offer rates, and client successes here.

In this process, I have earned 1,600+ 5-star reviews across platforms.

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My story: My first McKinsey interview, for an internship, didn't go to plan. I had prepared the way almost everyone does: the well-known books, memorized frameworks, chasing case volume. Fourteen months later I applied again with a completely different approach and got the full-time offer. I spent five years at McKinsey and was promoted to Senior Consultant. During this time, I saw how little of the popular advice matched what interviewers actually assess.

So I reverse-engineered the process. I started from what interviewers score, worked back to the skill behind each score, and built the method that trains those skills. The result is a skill-based approach. Instead of matching each case to a memorized framework, you learn to:

  • structure and brainstorm from the client's problem, not from a framework
  • form a view early, with incomplete data, and steer the case with it
  • interpret an exhibit for what it says about the client's question
  • do case math the way consultants do it
  • communicate top-down, so the interviewer can follow your thinking and trust it
  • tell fit and PEI stories that hold up when the interviewer probes, with my SCORE framework

Skills transfer. That's why they work on cases you've never seen, in candidate-led and interviewer-led formats, at any firm. The bar I coach you to is the one I saw from the other side of the table.

My goal: increase your probability of success while reducing wasted effort, stress, and time in preparation.

How?

My approach to consulting interviews is different

1) First-principles case solving
I was the first case coach to systematically implement first-principles thinking in case interviews, an approach many others have since adopted. I have written two books on case interviews (both were Amazon bestsellers) and have been invited by leading global business schools to teach these concepts in lectures and career seminars. In sessions, I train you to build structures from scratch, prioritize under uncertainty, interpret data precisely, calculate pragmatically and swiftly, and communicate with executive clarity, rather than relying on memorized frameworks and other outdated case interview advice.

You will become an excellent problem solver and top-tier candidate.

2) Systematic fit excellence
I developed the proprietary SCORE storytelling template to ensure candidates tell not just good stories, but the right stories with the right narrative, structure, and evidence of impact. This aligns directly with how top firms actually evaluate your personality and motivation through stories about leadership, influence, and judgment. 

You will become a memorable and standout candidate in the eyes of interviewers.

3) Strength-based development, firm-style feedback
I work with candidates the way top consulting firms develop talent. We double down on your performance spikes, because that is what wins offers, while systematically strengthening weaknesses to prevent rejections. The goal is to make you distinctly exceptional where it matters most.

You will see a clear performance trajectory from session to session.

4) Outcomes-first coaching
My coaching is intentionally not a low-cost, high-volume service. I invest significant time in you both inside and outside sessions. Sessions are not bound by a rigid time limit. We finish only once all topics are fully covered and your questions are answered. This often means that beyond a 30-minute case, we may spend an additional hour on deep feedback, targeted examples, and live demonstrations of how the method flexes in different situations. 

Our shared priority is learning depth and real skill transfer, not ticking the clock.

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What you receive after every session

You get a detailed Excel feedback model assessing each part of your case, your overall performance, and the underlying skills that drive outcomes. It clearly signals what to improve and how.

Through the StrategyCase.com ecosystem, coaching is embedded in a full, tailored development program including:

  • 20+ hours of video courses,
  • hundreds of case, framework, brainstorming, chart, and math drills,
  • realistic simulations for all major MBB recruiting tests (including McKinsey Solve simulations), and
  • access to a curated client practice network.

My clients' consistently higher offer rates reflect this unique combination of deep case expertise, ongoing mentorship, and a complete preparation ecosystem.

You also receive end-to-end recruiting support, including networking strategies, CV/cover letter optimization, test preparation, other interview formats, as well as offer decisions and negotiations.

Verify real results and success rates

I prioritize client outcomes over sheer volume, and my coaching is focused on measurable results. In 2025, McKinsey removed me from its alumni network for helping hundreds of candidates get into the firm.

For a direct comparison of success rates and actual offers with other coaches, please scroll down to the "SUCCESS STORIES" section or explore my 5-session coaching package, then compare against other profiles.

How to book

I work with a small number of clients at a time so I can invest deeply in your preparation and provide focused, high-quality support throughout your journey. Here is how we can set this up in the way that best supports you.

  • Interviews upcoming: Reach out for a free intro call to discuss your timeline, current level, and the most effective plan for you.
  • Urgent interview situation: Message me directly to schedule an initial baselining session as early as possible, where we diagnose your biggest gaps and define an actionable short-term plan.
  • Applying soon: Reach out for a free CV/cover letter check.
  • Unsure what you need: Schedule a free intro call and we’ll determine the right path together.

If you prefer to start on your own, I also offer a 7+ hour free Case Interview Foundations Course. Reach out anytime to get access!

If you are serious about converting preparation into real offers, I’m happy to work with you.

All the best,
Florian

Interested? Learn more about how I work:

Most consulting candidates follow the same preparation advice...
...and 99% of them never get an offer.

Why? Most of that advice is shaped by the 99% who never make it into a top firm, and by people who never saw the evaluation from the inside. As a candidate, I followed it too: generic frameworks, recycled tips, and practice routines that produce average performance at best. McKinsey rejected me the first time.

Firms have no incentive to reveal what they evaluate or how they evaluate it. Candidates are left with ineffective advice and a lot of guesswork.

I’ve seen the evaluation from the inside
Fourteen months after that rejection, I joined McKinsey with a completely different approach. Over five years there, I saw what separates a strong performance from a weak one, and how little of it matches the popular advice.

So I reverse-engineered the process: from what interviewers score, to the skill behind each score, to the drills that build that skill. That’s the method I have coached since leaving McKinsey, with one mission: candidates who meet their interviewers at eye level.

Who I work with
Students and interns, experienced hires, managers, and partner-level professionals: business graduates, engineers, medical doctors, ex-military officers, and career switchers. Your background does not matter as long as you share the ambition and the willingness to train differently from the crowd.

In 2025, McKinsey removed me from its alumni network for helping hundreds of candidates get into the firm. To me, that confirmed I’m building something distinct instead of recycling conventional prep advice.

Why candidates fail, and what we do about it
Most candidates don’t fail for lack of potential. They fail because they don’t show the profile consulting firms look for. I help you build that profile, so interviewers see a future consultant rather than another case candidate. We focus on:

  • Problem solving like a consultant: first-principles reasoning, hypothesis-driven problem solving, and convergent and divergent thinking for structuring and brainstorming.
  • Intuitive case solving: a step-by-step method for chart interpretation and case math that sharpens your insights and lifts your communication to the level top firms expect.
  • Storytelling and presence: structured stories for fit interviews, networking, and written applications, so you’re memorable instead of interchangeable.
  • Insider calibration: feedback measured against the bar I applied at McKinsey.
  • End-to-end mentorship: guidance and practice resources built to current interview standards, inside and outside our sessions.
  • Beyond the offer: skills that speed up your first months and early promotion once you’re in.

We build your strengths into performance spikes, which is what wins offers, and lift your weaknesses to a robust level, which keeps you from being rejected.

The outcome

  • 700+ offers. My coaching clients have secured 700+ consulting offers: 340 at McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, and 190 at McKinsey. That work has earned 1,600+ 5-star reviews across PrepLounge, StrategyCase, Leland, and Amazon. Over 95% of my clients on the 5-session program secure an offer, and 80%+ an MBB offer.
  • Offers every month. Every month, I guide candidates into top firms worldwide, and I track successes and failures to keep refining the method.
  • A full preparation ecosystem. StrategyCase.com courses, drills, and simulations come with the coaching at no extra cost, so your preparation time goes into building skills instead of searching for resources.
  • Deep expertise. I spent more than 2.5 years writing two books on case interviews, The 1%: Conquer Your Consulting Case Interview and The 1%: Case Interview Workbook, analyzing case design, successful case approaches, and interviewer evaluation criteria.
  • Beyond the application. My third book, Consulting Career Secrets, and my career content help you perform early and get promoted once you’re inside.

If you want to prepare differently from the 99%, I’d be glad to support you.

Open Detailed coaching approach, My process, and Why me? below for the full picture.

Interested? Learn more about how I work:
5.0
668 Reviews
Anonymous
Oct 23, 2026
Verified Coaching
Interview Coaching
Before my session with Florian, I was honestly anxious. There’s an overwhelming amount of case prep material online, and every resource seemed to pull me in a different direction. Florian cut through all of that and made things much clearer with his structured approach. I’ve worked with other coaches, and Florian stood out. His diagnostic session was exceptionally well run. He gave me detailed feedback and a clear plan for exactly what I needed to work on, instead of generic advice. He also knows McKinsey’s interview process inside and out, which made a huge difference in how I prepared. I’d say he’s one of the best, if not the best, coaches in interview prep, and he’s definitely worth the investment. Highly recommend him, especially if you’re interviewing with McKinsey. Trust me, don’t waste your time and money elsewhere.
Anonymous
Sep 16, 2026
Verified Coaching
Interview Coaching
Great coaching session with very extensive feedback! Left the session with a clear understanding of how to work on my shortcomings and what to do next. Florian is an amazing communicator, his explanations made perfect sense and tied in with the feedback he gave me, so I finally felt that case interviews weren't purely vibes-based with unclear criteria — they are sooo much easier to navigate conceptually now that I have an insight into how candidates are evaluated and how it translates into what I personally should do and say. I would also like to thank Florian for creating a friendly environment starting from the intro call, it really helped ease my anxiety around this entire process!!
D
Sep 8, 2026
Verified Coaching
Work Experience
Sr. Business Development & Strategy Manager
Bitpanda
2020 - 2020
Founder
StrategyCase
2019 - now
Sr. Consultant
McKinsey & Company
2015 - 2020
Consultant Trainee
Kearney
2013 - 2013
Marketing and Sales
Lufthansa
2012 - 2012
Education
PhD student
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien
2017 - 2021
Strategy
Master student
London School of Economics and Political Science
2013 - 2014
CEMS
Master student
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
2013 - 2014
CEMS
Last Month
Coaching Master
Top 5 | 11 Coachings
Florian has done 11 coachings in the last month.
Content King
Top 10
In the last month, Florian's articles have been read 30 times.
Past Awards
Coaching Master
Florian received an award for the most coachings 9 times in 2026.
Content King
Florian's articles were among the most-read blog articles 10 times in 2026.
Coaching Offers
Coaching Packages
Top Package
The 1% Case Method
USD 2,499
USD 1,849
Includes 5 sessions
5.0
67 Reviews
Intuitive Case and Fit Mastery
Unparalleled Offer Rates
$1,877 Bonus Practice Materials

Five untimed 1:1 sessions with me, plus the full preparation suite and a place in my private client group.

More cases build motion, not mastery. This program replaces volume with a diagnosis: we find what is holding your performance down, I teach you the fix, you drill it between sessions, and we test that it holds under interview pressure. Every session is with me. (The story behind the method is on my profile.)

Coaching Packages
Top Package
“The 1% Case Method” coaching program by Dr. Florian Smeritschnig, ex-McKinsey. Chess-themed visual promoting custom prep for top consulting offers.
The 1% Case Method
The 1% Case Method
5.0
67 Reviews
Intuitive Case and Fit Mastery
Unparalleled Offer Rates
$1,877 Bonus Practice Materials
Intuitive Case and Fit Mastery
Unparalleled Offer Rates
$1,877 Bonus Practice Materials
Single Coaching
Interview Coaching
60 Minutes
5.0
669 Reviews
USD 399
Book time slot
CV Review
30 Minutes
USD 289
Book time slot
Interview Coaching + CV Review
90 Minutes
USD 679
Book time slot
Availability
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Success Stories
Discover offers extended to my candidates and their success stories.
Discover offers extended to my recent candidates and their success stories.

Read 314 testimonials here!
Community Contributions
Videos by Florian
48:48 mins
on Feb 16, 2024
Work-Life Balance in Consulting | Workshop by Florian Smeritschnig
Florian's Newest Q&A Answers
Florian's Newest Cases
Florian's Newest Blog Articles