📝 Resume + cover letter guides – Stand out on paper so you can land an interview.
💬 Fit/behavioral question bank – Get ready for the “Why consulting?” moment.
📊 Offer and salary data – Know your worth.
🗓️ Recruiting timeline tracker – Stay one step ahead of the rest.
📚 Casing drills – Math, exhibit analysis, frameworks.
Firm Overview: OC&C Strategy Consultants
If you are targeting OC&C, you are interviewing with a pure-play strategy consulting firm that operates at a much smaller scale than firms like Accenture, EY, or PwC, but competes directly with top-tier strategy firms on rigor and impact. OC&C has roughly 1,000 consultants globally, with offices across Europe, North America, and Asia, and is particularly well known in the UK and Europe. The firm focuses exclusively on strategy, with deep expertise in growth, commercial strategy, pricing, and transactions, especially in consumer-facing and private equity contexts.
OC&C advises senior executives and investors on high-impact strategic questions, often where the answer directly affects revenue growth, profitability, or valuation. The work is highly analytical, hypothesis-driven, and typically less implementation-heavy than Big 4 consulting. Compared to larger firms, teams are leaner, expectations are higher, and junior consultants are given significant responsibility early.
Focus and specialties
- Growth strategy, market entry, and new business design
- Commercial due diligence (CDD), vendor due diligence (VDD), and strategy for private equity clients
- Pricing, revenue management, and customer strategy
- Portfolio strategy and performance improvement
OC&C works across a focused but deep set of industries. The main three branches within the firm are consumer goods (including retail and services), Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT), and B2B (spanning energy projects, TIC, and more). Across these industries, common clients include private equity firms (typically on a buy or sell-side diligence project) as well as strategy clients in the C-Suite.
Why candidates choose OC&C
- Pure strategy work with minimal implementation and operational distraction
- Strong exposure to private equity and high-stakes commercial decisions
- Lean teams with early responsibility and close partner interaction
- Exit opportunities into private equity, corporate strategy, and growth-focused industry roles
Because of its size and focus, OC&C values candidates who are intellectually curious, highly analytical, comfortable defending their thinking, and able to work independently in fast-paced, demanding environments.
Interview Process Overview
Undergraduate, MBA, and experienced hire recruiting at OC&C typically follows a two to three round structure. Some offices run assessment days that compress multiple interviews into a single day.
Step 1: Screening:
This stage usually includes an online application and resume + cover letter review. Some offices include an initial phone or video interview focused on motivation, fit, and basic problem solving. Recently, OC&C has introduced a quantitative math test as part of their screening process. The results of this test will be considered in addition to your resume and cover letter. Brush up on some consulting math drills here.
Step 2: First round:
Candidates typically complete one or two interviews lasting around 45 to 60 minutes. These interviews usually include a case interview and a short behavioral or fit discussion. Cases are often interviewer-led but require strong candidate ownership of structure and logic. OC&C cases are based on real projects, so be sure to search up your interviewer beforehand and note which industries and sectors they've worked in.
Step 3: Final round:
Final rounds usually involve two to four interviews with associate partners and partners. Candidates can expect more demanding cases, deeper probing of assumptions, and more emphasis on insight generation and commercial judgment. Some offices include a written case or presentation exercise. Final decisions focus on analytical rigor, communication, and whether the candidate thinks like a strategy consultant.
Details vary by country, business unit and whether you are applying as undergrad, MBA or experienced hire, so your recruiter’s description should be your final source of truth.
Behavioral Interview
OC&C behavioral interviews are typically shorter than those at Big 4 firms but more probing. The firm emphasizes intellectual honesty, structured thinking, curiosity, and the ability to engage in thoughtful debate. Interviewers want to understand how you think, how you learn, and whether you can operate effectively in small, high-performing teams.
How to answer for OC&C:
Concise, structured answers work best. STAR and CAR are both acceptable, but CAR often fits better given the time pressure and the firm’s focus on outcomes and learning. Be prepared for follow-up questions that challenge your assumptions or ask you to justify decisions.
Example outline 1: Intellectual challenge or disagreement
Prompt: Tell me about a time you challenged an idea or recommendation.
- Context – Briefly explain the situation, the decision being debated, and why it mattered.
- Action – Focus on how you analyzed the issue, raised concerns, used data or logic, and engaged constructively with others.
- Result – Share the outcome and one learning about decision making, debate, or intellectual rigor.
Example outline 2: Learning under pressure
Prompt: Describe a time you had to quickly learn a new topic or skill to deliver results.
- Context – Explain what you needed to learn and why time or accuracy was critical.
- Action – Describe how you broke the problem down, sought resources or feedback, and applied what you learned.
- Result – Conclude with the outcome and what it taught you about learning speed and problem solving.
How to prepare your stories
Build seven to ten stories that emphasize analytical thinking, learning, challenge, impact, and teamwork. Tag each story with OC&C-relevant themes such as intellectual rigor, curiosity, and commercial judgment. Practice delivering each story in two to three minutes, focusing on clarity of thought and what you learned.
OC&C Case Interview
OC&C case interviews are designed to closely replicate how strategy work is done at the firm. They are rigorous, commercially focused, and hypothesis driven, with a strong emphasis on analytical depth and clear thinking. Compared to Big 4 or implementation-oriented consulting, OC&C cases are less about operational rollout and more about answering high-stakes strategic questions that directly affect revenue, profitability, or valuation. Many candidates describe OC&C cases as closer in style and difficulty to top-tier strategy firms, with heavy probing and little tolerance for vague or generic answers.
Cases are typically interviewer-led but highly interactive. You are expected to take ownership of the problem by proposing a clear structure at the start, forming hypotheses, and driving the analysis forward. The interviewer will challenge your assumptions, ask “why” frequently, and push you to go deeper when answers feel superficial. Strong performance requires comfort defending your logic, adjusting your approach mid-case, and synthesizing insights clearly rather than simply running through a framework.
Interviewers evaluate several dimensions simultaneously. First is structured thinking: your ability to break an ambiguous business problem into logically coherent parts and prioritize what matters most. Second is analytical rigor: accuracy and speed in math, comfort working with numbers, and the ability to interpret data without being spoon-fed. Third is commercial judgment: whether your conclusions make sense in the real world and reflect how executives or investors would think about tradeoffs. Finally, communication is critical: you must explain your thinking clearly, concisely, and confidently, especially when challenged.
Common industries: Expect a strong concentration in consumer-facing sectors and private equity contexts. Many cases are set in consumer goods, retail, leisure, travel, media, and consumer services, where demand, pricing, and customer behavior are central. Financial services and fintech also appear, particularly when there is a clear commercial or growth question. Private equity cases are common and often resemble commercial due diligence, requiring you to assess market attractiveness, competitive dynamics, growth levers, and downside risks under time pressure.
Length: Single interviews are commonly around 45 to 60 minutes and are often dominated by one demanding case, with a short fit or motivation discussion at the beginning or end. Final rounds usually involve multiple back-to-back interviews, each with a full case, which makes stamina and consistency important. Some offices include a written case or short presentation exercise, where you analyze materials independently and then present your conclusions and defend them under questioning.
Interviewer or Candidate Led: OC&C cases are best described as interviewer-led but candidate-driven in thinking. The interviewer controls the flow of questions and information, but expects you to actively lead the reasoning, propose analyses, and synthesize conclusions. You must be comfortable both setting direction and responding precisely to targeted prompts. Silence, rambling, or generic frameworks are quickly exposed.
Quants and Exhibits: Quantitative intensity is high. Expect frequent mental math, including market sizing, pricing waterfalls, contribution margins, breakevens, growth rates, and scenario comparisons. Numbers are often layered, requiring multi-step calculations under time pressure. Exhibits tend to be information-dense tables or charts rather than simplified visuals (view tailored exhibit drills here). You are expected to extract insights quickly, compare options, and link numbers back to the strategic question. Calculators are not allowed, and weak mental math or slow data interpretation is one of the most common reasons candidates underperform, even when their high-level ideas are sound.
Tips to Prepare
Landing an offer at OC&C is tough. But with the right preparation, you can dramatically increase your odds.
- Case Library – Real OC&C-style cases with guided answers and data exhibits.
- Case Math Drills – Targeted quantitative practice modeled after OC&C's difficulty.
- Exhibit Analysis Drills – Learn to extract insights quickly from charts and data tables.
- Brainstorming & Market Sizing Drills – Build structured creativity and estimation speed.
- Networking Hub – Find partners to practice cases and behavioral questions with, globally.
Firm Overview: OC&C Strategy Consultants
If you are targeting OC&C, you are interviewing with a pure-play strategy consulting firm that operates at a much smaller scale than firms like Accenture, EY, or PwC, but competes directly with top-tier strategy firms on rigor and impact. OC&C has roughly 1,000 consultants globally, with offices across Europe, North America, and Asia, and is particularly well known in the UK and Europe. The firm focuses exclusively on strategy, with deep expertise in growth, commercial strategy, pricing, and transactions, especially in consumer-facing and private equity contexts.
OC&C advises senior executives and investors on high-impact strategic questions, often where the answer directly affects revenue growth, profitability, or valuation. The work is highly analytical, hypothesis-driven, and typically less implementation-heavy than Big 4 consulting. Compared to larger firms, teams are leaner, expectations are higher, and junior consultants are given significant responsibility early.
Focus and specialties
- Growth strategy, market entry, and new business design
- Commercial due diligence (CDD), vendor due diligence (VDD), and strategy for private equity clients
- Pricing, revenue management, and customer strategy
- Portfolio strategy and performance improvement
OC&C works across a focused but deep set of industries. The main three branches within the firm are consumer goods (including retail and services), Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT), and B2B (spanning energy projects, TIC, and more). Across these industries, common clients include private equity firms (typically on a buy or sell-side diligence project) as well as strategy clients in the C-Suite.
Why candidates choose OC&C
- Pure strategy work with minimal implementation and operational distraction
- Strong exposure to private equity and high-stakes commercial decisions
- Lean teams with early responsibility and close partner interaction
- Exit opportunities into private equity, corporate strategy, and growth-focused industry roles
Because of its size and focus, OC&C values candidates who are intellectually curious, highly analytical, comfortable defending their thinking, and able to work independently in fast-paced, demanding environments.
Interview Process Overview
Undergraduate, MBA, and experienced hire recruiting at OC&C typically follows a two to three round structure. Some offices run assessment days that compress multiple interviews into a single day.
Step 1: Screening:
This stage usually includes an online application and resume + cover letter review. Some offices include an initial phone or video interview focused on motivation, fit, and basic problem solving. Recently, OC&C has introduced a quantitative math test as part of their screening process. The results of this test will be considered in addition to your resume and cover letter. Brush up on some consulting math drills here.
Step 2: First round:
Candidates typically complete one or two interviews lasting around 45 to 60 minutes. These interviews usually include a case interview and a short behavioral or fit discussion. Cases are often interviewer-led but require strong candidate ownership of structure and logic. OC&C cases are based on real projects, so be sure to search up your interviewer beforehand and note which industries and sectors they've worked in.
Step 3: Final round:
Final rounds usually involve two to four interviews with associate partners and partners. Candidates can expect more demanding cases, deeper probing of assumptions, and more emphasis on insight generation and commercial judgment. Some offices include a written case or presentation exercise. Final decisions focus on analytical rigor, communication, and whether the candidate thinks like a strategy consultant.
Details vary by country, business unit and whether you are applying as undergrad, MBA or experienced hire, so your recruiter’s description should be your final source of truth.
Behavioral Interview
OC&C behavioral interviews are typically shorter than those at Big 4 firms but more probing. The firm emphasizes intellectual honesty, structured thinking, curiosity, and the ability to engage in thoughtful debate. Interviewers want to understand how you think, how you learn, and whether you can operate effectively in small, high-performing teams.
How to answer for OC&C:
Concise, structured answers work best. STAR and CAR are both acceptable, but CAR often fits better given the time pressure and the firm’s focus on outcomes and learning. Be prepared for follow-up questions that challenge your assumptions or ask you to justify decisions.
Example outline 1: Intellectual challenge or disagreement
Prompt: Tell me about a time you challenged an idea or recommendation.
- Context – Briefly explain the situation, the decision being debated, and why it mattered.
- Action – Focus on how you analyzed the issue, raised concerns, used data or logic, and engaged constructively with others.
- Result – Share the outcome and one learning about decision making, debate, or intellectual rigor.
Example outline 2: Learning under pressure
Prompt: Describe a time you had to quickly learn a new topic or skill to deliver results.
- Context – Explain what you needed to learn and why time or accuracy was critical.
- Action – Describe how you broke the problem down, sought resources or feedback, and applied what you learned.
- Result – Conclude with the outcome and what it taught you about learning speed and problem solving.
How to prepare your stories
Build seven to ten stories that emphasize analytical thinking, learning, challenge, impact, and teamwork. Tag each story with OC&C-relevant themes such as intellectual rigor, curiosity, and commercial judgment. Practice delivering each story in two to three minutes, focusing on clarity of thought and what you learned.
OC&C Case Interview
OC&C case interviews are designed to closely replicate how strategy work is done at the firm. They are rigorous, commercially focused, and hypothesis driven, with a strong emphasis on analytical depth and clear thinking. Compared to Big 4 or implementation-oriented consulting, OC&C cases are less about operational rollout and more about answering high-stakes strategic questions that directly affect revenue, profitability, or valuation. Many candidates describe OC&C cases as closer in style and difficulty to top-tier strategy firms, with heavy probing and little tolerance for vague or generic answers.
Cases are typically interviewer-led but highly interactive. You are expected to take ownership of the problem by proposing a clear structure at the start, forming hypotheses, and driving the analysis forward. The interviewer will challenge your assumptions, ask “why” frequently, and push you to go deeper when answers feel superficial. Strong performance requires comfort defending your logic, adjusting your approach mid-case, and synthesizing insights clearly rather than simply running through a framework.
Interviewers evaluate several dimensions simultaneously. First is structured thinking: your ability to break an ambiguous business problem into logically coherent parts and prioritize what matters most. Second is analytical rigor: accuracy and speed in math, comfort working with numbers, and the ability to interpret data without being spoon-fed. Third is commercial judgment: whether your conclusions make sense in the real world and reflect how executives or investors would think about tradeoffs. Finally, communication is critical: you must explain your thinking clearly, concisely, and confidently, especially when challenged.
Common industries: Expect a strong concentration in consumer-facing sectors and private equity contexts. Many cases are set in consumer goods, retail, leisure, travel, media, and consumer services, where demand, pricing, and customer behavior are central. Financial services and fintech also appear, particularly when there is a clear commercial or growth question. Private equity cases are common and often resemble commercial due diligence, requiring you to assess market attractiveness, competitive dynamics, growth levers, and downside risks under time pressure.
Length: Single interviews are commonly around 45 to 60 minutes and are often dominated by one demanding case, with a short fit or motivation discussion at the beginning or end. Final rounds usually involve multiple back-to-back interviews, each with a full case, which makes stamina and consistency important. Some offices include a written case or short presentation exercise, where you analyze materials independently and then present your conclusions and defend them under questioning.
Interviewer or Candidate Led: OC&C cases are best described as interviewer-led but candidate-driven in thinking. The interviewer controls the flow of questions and information, but expects you to actively lead the reasoning, propose analyses, and synthesize conclusions. You must be comfortable both setting direction and responding precisely to targeted prompts. Silence, rambling, or generic frameworks are quickly exposed.
Quants and Exhibits: Quantitative intensity is high. Expect frequent mental math, including market sizing, pricing waterfalls, contribution margins, breakevens, growth rates, and scenario comparisons. Numbers are often layered, requiring multi-step calculations under time pressure. Exhibits tend to be information-dense tables or charts rather than simplified visuals (view tailored exhibit drills here). You are expected to extract insights quickly, compare options, and link numbers back to the strategic question. Calculators are not allowed, and weak mental math or slow data interpretation is one of the most common reasons candidates underperform, even when their high-level ideas are sound.
Tips to Prepare
Landing an offer at OC&C is tough. But with the right preparation, you can dramatically increase your odds.
- Case Library – Real OC&C-style cases with guided answers and data exhibits.
- Case Math Drills – Targeted quantitative practice modeled after OC&C's difficulty.
- Exhibit Analysis Drills – Learn to extract insights quickly from charts and data tables.
- Brainstorming & Market Sizing Drills – Build structured creativity and estimation speed.
- Networking Hub – Find partners to practice cases and behavioral questions with, globally.
📝 Resume + cover letter guides – Stand out on paper so you can land an interview.
💬 Fit/behavioral question bank – Get ready for the “Why consulting?” moment.
📊 Offer and salary data – Know your worth.
🗓️ Recruiting timeline tracker – Stay one step ahead of the rest.
📚 Casing drills – Math, exhibit analysis, frameworks.
