Everything you need to write a cover letter that clears the OC&C application screen, including a real template used by candidates who received first-round invitations.
~15 min readFreeTemplate included
Why OC&C cover letters matter
OC&C is a boutique strategy firm that recruits in small cohorts, which means the cover letter receives close attention. A letter that is generic, could apply to any mid-tier strategy firm, or fails to demonstrate real knowledge of what OC&C does will not progress.
OC&C has a specific identity: a strategy-only firm with a strong emphasis on consumer, retail, and media sectors, and a reputation for rigorous, data-driven strategy work. Candidates who demonstrate they understand that positioning, and can connect it to their own experience, will stand out from the majority who treat OC&C as a fallback option.
The firm is also smaller and more selective than most candidates realise. An OC&C recruiter reading your cover letter is genuinely assessing whether you would be a fit for a team of this size and culture, not just whether you have the right credentials. The letter is an important part of that assessment.
OC&C evaluates cover letters on criteria that reflect its boutique, strategy-only positioning and its sector depth in consumer, retail, and media. Each one can be addressed deliberately once you understand what the firm is actually measuring.
Strategy-only focus
OC&C does not do implementation or outsourcing. It is a pure-play strategy firm. Demonstrating that you specifically want strategy consulting, and understand what that means day-to-day, matters more here than at generalist firms.
Sector awareness
OC&C is known for its work in consumer, retail, media, and private equity. A signal that you understand at least one of these sectors, and why OC&C's approach to it appeals to you, is far more compelling than generic consulting interest.
Analytical sharpness
OC&C engagements are heavily quantitative and data-driven. Evidence of working through a complex analytical problem, particularly one with commercial stakes, is directly relevant.
Genuine boutique interest
Your reason for choosing OC&C over larger strategy firms needs to be real. The firm's size, its sector focus, or its approach to strategy work are all legitimate reasons. Generic prestige or brand recognition is not.
A OC&C cover letter follows a predictable four-paragraph structure. Recruiters scan quickly, so each paragraph should do exactly one job. Deviating from this structure is rarely worth the risk.
1Opening paragraphRole, source, one-line hook
2Why consultingEvidence from your background
3Why OC&CSpecific and non-transferable
4ClosingBrief, confident, action-oriented
Beyond structure, format signals professionalism. Recruiters notice a crowded page or an unusual font before they read a single sentence.
Length
One page, 3 to 4 paragraphs
Font size
10 to 11pt with comfortable margins
Header
Your name and contact details at the top
Salutation
Address by name if known; "Dear Recruiting Team" if not
File format
PDF, named FirstLast_OC&C_CoverLetter.pdf
Section-by-section breakdown
The four-paragraph structure gives you a clear brief for each section. Below is what each paragraph needs to accomplish, along with concrete examples of the gap between a weak version and a strong one.
1. Opening paragraph
State the role and office you are applying to, where you found the position, and one sentence that frames why consulting makes sense for your background. Do not open with "I am writing to express my interest in." It is the most common opening line in consulting applications and signals nothing distinctive about you.
What not to say
What to say instead
"OC&C's reputation for rigorous strategy work and its collaborative culture make it an outstanding place to develop as a consultant."
"OC&C's Consumer & Retail practice, and specifically its work on omnichannel strategy for European grocers, connects directly with the customer experience transformation I have been leading at my current role."
2. Why consulting
This paragraph answers the question every recruiter asks when reading a cover letter: why would someone with your background want to become a consultant? The cover letter is not the place to summarise your resume. The recruiter has already read it. What they want to know is what those experiences meant to you, and what they reveal about why consulting is the right next step. A two-sentence reflection on a specific project will always outperform a paragraph that simply lists what you have already done.
What not to say
What to say instead
"During my time at [Company], I led a cross-functional team of six and delivered a cost reduction project ahead of schedule, which is detailed further in my resume."
"Leading that cost reduction project showed me how much I enjoy working through problems that have no obvious answer. It made me want to do that kind of work across industries, not just one company."
3. Why OC&C
This is the paragraph where most OC&C cover letters fail. A generic answer about strategy consulting, or a statement that OC&C's reputation attracted you, tells the recruiter you could have written the same letter to any mid-tier strategy firm. Your reason for OC&C must be grounded in specific knowledge of the firm's work, its sector focus, or its positioning as a boutique.
What not to say
What to say instead
"OC&C's reputation for innovation and its collaborative culture make it the ideal place for me to grow as a consultant."
"OC&C's Climate and Sustainability practice, and specifically the work on green hydrogen economics I read in the 2024 report, aligns directly with the infrastructure projects I have been working on."
4. Closing paragraph
Keep it short. Thank the reader for their time, note that you have attached your resume, and say that you look forward to discussing the role. Three sentences is enough. A direct close works better than an elaborate one, particularly at a firm that values concision.
Do's and don'ts
Do
✓Reference OC&C's sector focus in consumer, retail, or media specifically
✓Use one concrete example to support each claim you make
✓Read the letter out loud before submitting
✓Keep it to one page with comfortable margins and font size
✓Tailor the "why OC&C" paragraph per office or practice area
✓Add something new that is not already visible on your resume
Don't
–Use words like "passionate," "dynamic," or "team player"
–Write a reason for OC&C that could apply to any MBB firm
–Repeat bullet points or experience already on your resume
–Open with "I am writing to express my interest in"
–Submit as a .docx file or use an unconventional font
–Treat OC&C as a stepping stone or fallback option — the firm will sense it
The template below reflects the structure used by candidates who received OC&C first-round invitations. It is annotated with notes on what each paragraph needs to accomplish.
OC&C Cover Letter Template
A real cover letter structure used by candidates who received OC&C first-round interviews. Annotated with coaching notes.
