OC&C Case Interview: Step-By-Step Guide to Ace Your Interview

Preparing for an OC&C case interview can be challenging, especially if you’re unfamiliar with how the firm structures its interviews or what skills they prioritize. Like most top-tier consulting firms, OC&C uses case interviews to test your structured thinking, problem-solving, and communication under pressure.

In this article, we will explore what the OC&C case interview involves, how to approach each stage, and what you can do to stand out.

What is the OC&C Case Interview and why does it matter?

An OC&C case interview is a 30 to 60-minute business simulation designed to assess your analytical thinking, communication skills, and cultural fit with the firm. It replicates real client scenarios OC&C consultants face and is the core component of their interview process.

OC&C uses case interviews across all rounds, typically involving two rounds with a mix of structured problem-solving and behavioral fit questions. These interviews are designed to reflect the fast-paced, analytical nature of OC&C's client work.

The case itself may cover:

• Market sizing questions (e.g. value of a niche product in a specific region)
• Strategic problems like pricing, entry strategies, or M&A evaluation
• Operational issues such as cost reduction or supply chain optimization

Your performance in these cases is one of the most important factors in securing an offer. OC&C places significant weight on how you break down complex problems and communicate recommendations clearly.

Case interviews at OC&C are usually interviewer-led, meaning the interviewer directs the flow and asks targeted questions. However, some components may still require candidate-led thinking, especially when exploring ambiguous situations or building frameworks.

You do not need industry-specific knowledge to succeed. Instead, focus on mastering fundamental case interview skills:

• Structuring ambiguous problems using a clear, logical framework
• Performing mental math and interpreting data under time pressure
• Communicating insights clearly and concisely
• Showing curiosity, creativity, and coachability throughout

Interviewers also evaluate how well you collaborate. OC&C values candidates who can stay composed, work through problems conversationally, and demonstrate business acumen without posturing.

By understanding what the OC&C case interview involves and why it’s used, you can better tailor your preparation to succeed at each stage.

What core skills do OC&C interviewers assess?

OC&C interviewers assess your structured thinking, analytical ability, business judgment, communication skills, and cultural fit to evaluate your readiness for strategy consulting. These core skills are tested across both case and behavioral interview components.

Each case interview is carefully designed to uncover how you think, analyze, and communicate. Here’s what OC&C looks for:

1. Structured Problem Solving

OC&C values candidates who can break down ambiguous problems logically. You’ll need to create clear, MECE (mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive) frameworks that guide your analysis without oversimplifying the business problem.

Example prompt: A retail client wants to improve profitability. Can you structure a logical approach to explore both cost and revenue drivers?

2. Analytical and Quantitative Skills

You’ll encounter graphs, charts, and basic math questions in most interviews. OC&C expects you to interpret data accurately and perform calculations confidently.

• Perform percentage calculations, breakeven analysis, or CAGR estimation
• Analyze data charts or financial exhibits to extract key trends
• Structure your quantitative approach before calculating

3. Business Acumen

You don’t need deep industry knowledge, but you do need to show practical business sense. Can you distinguish between relevant and irrelevant factors? Do your recommendations make sense given the client’s goals and market?

Tip: Ground your reasoning in first principles-understand what drives customer behavior, cost structure, or market size.

4. Communication and Presence

Clear communication is critical. OC&C interviewers look for candidates who speak in concise, structured sentences and explain their thinking step by step.

• Summarize frameworks and conclusions clearly
• Talk through math steps aloud
• Adapt tone and style to your interviewer’s cues

5. Cultural and Behavioral Fit

Fit matters. Interviewers assess if you’re coachable, collaborative, and able to work well in small, fast-paced teams. This is especially important in final round interviews, where partners evaluate long-term potential.

Common fit interview themes:

• “Tell me about a time you solved a difficult problem.”
• “Give an example of when you disagreed with a team member.”
• “Why OC&C?”

How is the OC&C interview structured across different rounds?

The OC&C interview process typically includes two rounds, each consisting of two case interviews and accompanying fit or behavioral questions. The format is consistent across offices and designed to assess both problem-solving and personal fit.

First Round Structure

You’ll usually face two 45-minute case interviews, led by associates or managers. These are interviewer-led and focus heavily on:

• Core case skills: structuring, math, synthesis
• Market sizing and profitability frameworks
• Some basic fit questions at the end (e.g. “Why consulting?”, “Why OC&C?”)

Expect each interviewer to direct you through discrete parts of the case - for example, analyzing a revenue decline or evaluating a go-to-market strategy. They may pivot quickly between qualitative brainstorming and quantitative problem-solving.

Final Round Structure

Final round interviews are often conducted by partners or senior principals. You’ll again face two case interviews, but with greater emphasis on:

• Communication style and executive presence
• Business judgment and creativity under ambiguity
• Cultural fit and long-term potential

Behavioral questions tend to go deeper here. For example:

• “Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned.”
• “Describe a situation where you influenced a key decision.”

The cases themselves may be more open-ended or abstract - for instance, evaluating multiple M&A options or assessing a disruptive market trend. This gives interviewers a better sense of how you think without guardrails.

Key Format Characteristics

• All OC&C interviews include a case component
• Each round has 2 interviews - no group cases or written tests
• Interviews are mostly interviewer-led, with some flexibility in discussion

You’ll typically receive feedback between rounds within 1 to 3 days.

How should you approach solving an OC&C Case step by step?

To solve an OC&C case interview successfully, follow a clear six-step approach: understand the case, build a structure, start the analysis, solve quantitative questions, address qualitative elements, and deliver a concise recommendation. This method helps you stay organized and align with OC&C’s expectations.

1. Understand the Case Prompt

Begin by listening carefully to the case background. Take notes on the client’s objective, key context, and any constraints.

• Clarify the objective: What is the client asking?
• Ask clarification questions if needed
• Restate the problem to confirm alignment

Example: “So the client wants to know if they should enter the German e-commerce market to grow revenue. Is that correct?”

2. Structure the Problem

This is where you demonstrate structured problem solving using a MECE framework. Take a minute to think, then break the problem into 3–4 clear areas.

• Use relevant case interview frameworks (e.g., profitability, market entry, M&A)
• Ensure all areas are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive
• Walk the interviewer through your approach

Tip: Structure the case from first principles, not memorized templates. OC&C values logical clarity more than flashy jargon.

3. Kick Off the Analysis

Once your framework is approved, begin diving into one area at a time.

• If interviewer-led, follow their direction through the case components
• If candidate-led, propose which branch to explore first and explain why

Be hypothesis-driven. Make educated guesses and adjust based on new data.

4. Solve the Quantitative Component

Most OC&C cases involve math. You may be asked to estimate market size, calculate breakeven points, or analyze pricing impacts.

• Lay out your calculation approach before doing the math
• Talk through steps aloud to help the interviewer follow your thinking
• Sense-check your answer to catch avoidable errors

Example: "We’re estimating 20 million potential customers spending $50 annually. That gives a market size of about $1 billion."

5. Answer Qualitative Questions

You may be asked to brainstorm risks, interpret business trends, or prioritize strategic options.

• Organize ideas clearly (e.g., internal vs external, short vs long term)
• Link your insights back to the client objective
• Keep answers concise and logical

6. Deliver a Structured Recommendation

Close the case with a confident summary of your recommendation, supported by 2 to 3 key points.

• Lead with your main recommendation
• Back it up with the most compelling insights from your analysis
• Include next steps or additional areas for exploration if time allows

Example: “Based on the large addressable market and limited competition, I recommend entering the German e-commerce space. However, the client should run a pilot in Q4 to test customer demand and logistics.”

What do real OC&C case examples look like and how can you use them to prepare?

OC&C case interviews often draw from real client work and test your ability to handle strategic, market sizing, and operational challenges. Studying actual examples helps you understand the firm’s case style and improve your preparation through targeted practice.

Types of OC&C Case Questions

The cases tend to fall into one of three categories:

• Market Sizing: You estimate the size of a market or number of users based on logical assumptions and structured math.
  Example: “What is the size of the diaper market in the Netherlands?”
• Strategic Analysis: These require evaluating options like market entry, product launch, or pricing.
  Example: “A mobile phone company is launching a new model. How should it price it?”
• Operational Improvement: These cases focus on cost reduction, efficiency, or internal business performance.
  Example: “How would you improve supply chain efficiency for a beverage company?”

You may also encounter abstract estimation questions like:

• “How many tennis balls fit in Wembley Stadium?”
• “What’s the value of the online luxury fashion market in China?”

These test your creativity, logic, and comfort with ambiguous problem spaces.

How to Use These Examples Effectively

1. Practice with a Partner: Simulate real-time problem solving to build communication and pressure-handling skills.
2. Write Out Frameworks and Recommendations: After solving a case, summarize your logic, key calculations, and final answer.
3. Recreate Cases from Memory: Turn the examples into drills: create new variations, test different structures, or add qualitative twists.
4. Study OC&C’s Industry Focus Areas: OC&C often works in consumer goods, retail, private equity, and TMT. Build sample frameworks around those sectors.
5. Sense-Check Your Assumptions: Use estimation logic grounded in everyday knowledge. For instance: population, average prices, household behavior.

What insider tips can give you an edge in OC&C case interviews?

To succeed in an OC&C case interview, focus on early preparation, structured practice, clear communication, and learning from feedback. These insider tips can significantly improve your performance and set you apart from other candidates.

1. Start Preparing Early

Don’t wait until you get the interview invite. Give yourself at least 4 to 6 weeks to build case interview fundamentals.

• Begin with core concepts like structuring, mental math, and estimation
• Work through 10 to 15 live mock cases with a partner
• Review common OC&C case themes: market entry, pricing, operations

2. Practice With a Case Partner

Practicing aloud builds real-time thinking and communication skills. Simulating the full interview environment helps you:

• Get used to interviewer-led transitions
• Sharpen your explanations and frameworks
• Identify areas where you hesitate or lose structure

3. Track Feedback After Each Case

After every practice session, write down your key wins and areas for improvement. Look for recurring patterns and focus on one major fix per session.

Example: If multiple partners say your math is accurate but slow, practice with a timer and talk through each step aloud.

4. Sense-Check Your Numbers

Basic math mistakes, like missing a zero, can hurt your case credibility. Use mental estimation to verify if your answers make sense.

• Round numbers to simplify calculations
• Use benchmarks (e.g., average salary, population) to ground assumptions

5. Be Coachable and Collaborative

Interviewers aren’t just assessing problem-solving. They’re asking: Would I want to work with this person?

• Listen carefully to feedback during the case
• Be open to pivots and suggestions
• Show a positive, curious, and calm demeanor

6. Clarify Case Objectives

Before diving into frameworks, always confirm the client’s goal. Misunderstanding the objective is one of the most common reasons candidates fail.

• Restate the objective clearly
• Ask if there are secondary goals or constraints

How does OC&C’s case style differ from other top firms’ formats?

OC&C case interviews differ from other consulting firms by being more structured, faster-paced, and rooted in practical business scenarios. Unlike some firms, OC&C places more emphasis on clarity of logic than on memorized frameworks.

Key Differences in Case Style

1. Interviewer-Led Format: OC&C cases are mostly interviewer-led, meaning the interviewer drives the flow of questions and expects precise answers to specific prompts.

• You won’t lead the entire analysis
• You must adapt quickly to pivots in focus
• Strong listening and verbal synthesis are critical

2. First-Principles Thinking Over Framework Memorization: Rather than relying on pre-packaged frameworks, OC&C favors candidates who structure their thinking based on first principles.

• Each case may require a tailored approach
• Thinking logically > reciting “4Ps” or “Porter’s Five Forces”

3. Industry Breadth, Not Depth: Cases may touch on retail, TMT, private equity, or consumer goods - but rarely require deep technical knowledge.

• Expect generalist business logic
• Focus on understanding core market dynamics

4. Faster Interview Pace: OC&C interviews move quickly. Interviewers may jump from quantitative to qualitative to synthesis in minutes.

• You’ll need to think and speak concisely
• Prioritization and clarity are rewarded

5. Balance Between Math and Insight: While math matters, OC&C gives equal weight to qualitative insight and structured reasoning.

• Be ready to interpret charts, analyze drivers, and propose actionable recommendations
• Show the “so what” behind your calculations

Why This Matters

Understanding these stylistic differences helps you prepare more strategically. For example:

• Don’t over-rely on generic frameworks - customize based on case context
• Practice fast transitions between problem types
• Improve your ability to clarify ambiguous questions quickly and confidently

What should you expect from the OC&C candidate experience during the interview?

During the OC&C interview process, you can expect a structured, professional experience that combines rigorous case interviews with conversational behavioral questions. The firm’s approach emphasizes both analytical precision and cultural fit.

Before the Interview

• Logistics: You’ll typically receive a confirmation email with interview details, including names and titles of interviewers.
• Format: Most interviews are conducted virtually or in-office depending on location, with two back-to-back 45-minute sessions.

Tip: Prepare questions to ask your interviewers. Demonstrating curiosity about the firm shows engagement and alignment.

During the Interview

Each session usually follows this structure:

1. Intro and Icebreaker (2 to 3 minutes)
   

• Light introductions
• A brief summary of your background
• Expect: “Walk me through your resume” or “Why consulting?”

2. Main Case Interview (30 to 35 minutes)
   

• The interviewer walks you through a business scenario
• You solve math problems, interpret charts, and answer qualitative prompts
• You’ll be assessed on structure, communication, and insight

3. Behavioral Questions (5 to 10 minutes)
   

• These explore how you collaborate, handle setbacks, and think strategically
• Examples include:
  • “Tell me about a time you worked on a team under pressure”
  • “Describe a difficult decision you made with limited information” 

4. Q&A (2 to 5 minutes)
   

• You’ll have time to ask questions about the firm, project types, or team culture

After the Interview

• Decision timeline: You’ll often hear back within 2 to 3 business days.
• Feedback: Some candidates receive structured feedback, particularly in later rounds.
• Next steps: If successful, you may be invited to the final round or offered directly depending on the role and office.

Candidate Tips for a Smooth Experience

• Arrive early or log in 5 minutes ahead of time
• Bring pen, paper, and a calculator (if allowed)
• Keep your answers concise and structured
• Smile, stay calm, and engage with your interviewer naturally

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How difficult is it to get into OC&C?
A: Getting into OC&C is competitive, as the firm looks for strong problem-solving skills, structured thinking, and clear communication. Excelling in the OC&C case interview and behavioral rounds is key to standing out.

Q: How long does it take to hear back from OC&C?
A: After an OC&C interview, candidates typically hear back within one to two weeks. Timelines can vary depending on the role, office location, and recruitment cycle.

Q: What not to do in a case interview?
A: In a case interview, avoid jumping to conclusions without structured analysis, ignoring interviewer hints, or overlooking basic math accuracy. These mistakes can weaken your performance in an OC&C case study interview.

Q: Does OC&C pay well?
A: Yes, OC&C offers competitive salaries and benefits that align with other top-tier consulting firms. Pay levels vary by region, experience, and role.

Q: Is OC&C a good company to work for?
A: OC&C is considered a strong employer in consulting, known for its challenging projects, collaborative culture, and opportunities to develop advanced business judgment and case interview skills.