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Laura Ackermann once worked with a hospital executive in his 50s – years of running a mid-sized US hospital – who wanted to apply for McKinsey's Associate position.
She was outraged.
Not at him – at how common the pattern is. 
Experienced hires undervalue what they've built. They apply too low. Skip networking because it feels uncomfortable. Wait to start case prep because the timeline isn't obvious.
And then the window closes.
In this episode, Laura (BCG → McKinsey senior engagement manager, now MC coach) and Katie Neff (MC Black Belt Advisor) break down the 4-step experienced hire system to break into consulting.
She covers:
Why applying to the wrong level gets you rejected
How to narrow your target list to 6-10 firms and own them, instead of applying to 30 and hoping
What a consulting-ready resume looks like when your experience isn't linear
Why case prep must start way before you apply
Resources:
Get our 4-step experienced hire system with Black Belt
Book a free 15-minute consultation with Katie
Start case prep with Case Foundations – create your free account
Free Consulting Prep Just Got a Whole Lot Better
Create a free MC account for access to step-by-step learning pathways, a brand new case prep course, and more. Download the MC app to prep anywhere.
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

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Bain told Jenny Rae on day 1 she'd be pushed out if she didn't perform. What they conveniently left out: almost everybody meets the bar.
Up or out isn't the brutal filter most people fear. In the early years, it's a deliberate scare tactic. The real pressure comes later, when you have to cross from analytical work into managing.
In this episode of Consulting Unpacked, Jenny Rae breaks down why up or out culture exists, what it's actually protecting, and why she became one of its biggest advocates.
Resources:
Create a free profile + access the Job Board (1K+ jobs)
Create a free MC account to access foundational resources and start building your consulting skill set today
Book a free 15-minute call with Katie to talk through your specific situation
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

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Kunal ran the numbers. Modern pizza wins on absolute profit and payback period.
Then he flagged it: you're projecting nearly 200 pizzas a day for a restaurant that hasn't opened yet. That's the instinct that separates good from great.
This is a full McKinsey case in the restaurant industry, led by Mark Di Giorgio (ex-McKinsey Toronto). Kunal works through a New York pizza market entry question – modern vs. traditional.
After the case, Mark breaks it down section by section with tactical detail you can apply immediately:
Why catching volume risk after solving the math gets interviewers to lean forward
The 4-step case opening most candidates skip
How to read an exhibit before touching the math
The brainstorming close that turns a good answer great
Coaching with Mark:
Join the Black Belt case prep program for personalized coaching with Mark and a prep strategy tailored to your goals and timeline
Connect with Mark on LinkedIn
Resources:
Create a free account to access Case Interview Foundations – a 7-day case interview crash course
Watch more McKinsey, BCG, and Bain case interview demos on YouTube
Free Consulting Prep Just Got a Whole Lot Better
Create a free MC account for access to step-by-step learning pathways, a brand new case prep course, and more. Download the MC app to prep anywhere.
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

Send us Fan Mail
Jenny Rae joined Bain in 2005. At McKinsey that year, consultants were home 3 nights a week – Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. That was considered acceptable.
Today, consulting looks different. But maybe not in the ways you'd assume.
In this episode of Consulting Unpacked, Jenny Rae breaks down the 4 real shifts she's tracked over 20 years inside and alongside the industry – and makes the case for what's barely changed at all.
We cover:
How a 10-week engagement today compares to a 20-week one from 2005
Why firms are now pressure-testing your commitment to stay – and what to say when they do
Why 50+ firms are now legitimate career launchpads – not just MBB
What's stayed the same despite 20 years of industry change
Resources:
Create a free profile + access the Job Board (1K+ jobs)
Create a free MC account to access foundational resources and start building your consulting skill set today
Book a 15-minute consult with Katie to figure out the right prep path for where you are right now
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more

Send us Fan Mail
Most people think consulting trains you in industries or analytics.
That's not the real advantage.
In this episode of Consulting Unpacked, Jenny Rae breaks down the skill consultants master at the world's top firms – complex project management – and the 10 principles that separate average operators from the people who consistently deliver under pressure.
You'll learn:
Why scope clarity (and what you're not doing) matters more than the project plan itself
How consultants align stakeholders, escalate issues, and build quality into every phase
The mindset shift that makes project management a career accelerator in any industry
Resources:
Bring consulting-level project management to your team with PM Training
Create a free profile + access the Job Board (1K+ jobs)
Create a free MC account to access foundational resources and start building your consulting skill set today
Connect With Management Consulted
Create a free MC account or download the MC app (Apple, Android) to start your prep today
Schedule a free 15min consultation with the MC Team
Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok
Join an upcoming live event – case interviews demos, expert panels, and more