Author: Taylor Warfield, Former Bain Manager and interviewer

Last Updated: May 29, 2026

OC&C case interviews are the hardest part of landing an offer at OC&C Strategy Consultants. They are 30 to 60-minute business cases that test how you structure problems, run the math, and reach a clear recommendation.

 

You will face them in every round, so you need to pass each one to get hired.

 

I am a former Bain Manager and interviewer, and I have helped thousands of candidates prepare for cases at OC&C and other strategy firms. This guide walks you through the firm, the full interview process, the new online math test, real case examples, a step-by-step solving method, and my top tips.

 

But first, a quick heads up:

 

McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and other top firms accept less than 1% of applicants every year. If you want to triple your chances of landing interviews and 8x your chances of passing them, watch my free 40-minute training.

 

What Changed in 2026?

 

We added a full firm overview, a detailed round-by-round breakdown of the interview process, and a new section on the online math test that OC&C now uses to screen applicants.

 

We also added real cases reported by recent candidates, a section on how OC&C cases differ from other firms, updated compensation figures, and a new FAQ section based on the questions candidates ask most.

 

What Is OC&C Strategy Consultants?

 

OC&C Strategy Consultants is a global pure-play strategy consulting firm founded in London in 1987. It employs roughly 700 to 1,000 consultants across about 10 to 15 offices in 11 countries, with its strongest presence in the United Kingdom and Europe.

 

The firm was started by three former Booz Allen Hamilton consultants who specialized in consumer goods. That heritage still shapes the work today.

 

OC&C focuses on top-line growth and high-stakes commercial decisions. Most of its work falls into a few core areas:

 

• Growth strategy, market entry, and new business design

 

• Pricing, revenue management, and customer strategy

 

• Commercial due diligence and strategy work for private equity clients

 

• Portfolio strategy and performance improvement

 

OC&C is known for serving a focused set of sectors: consumer goods, retail, leisure and hospitality, technology, media and telecom, B2B services, and digital. Private equity firms are some of its most common clients.

 

Because OC&C is smaller than the largest consulting firms, teams are lean and junior consultants get real responsibility early. The firm is also a certified B Corp and ranks as a top boutique strategy player. If you are weighing your options, OC&C sits among the strongest tier 2 consulting firms for candidates who want pure strategy work.

 

What Is an OC&C Case Interview?

 

An OC&C case interview is a 30 to 60-minute exercise in which you and the interviewer work together to solve a business problem and reach a recommendation. Like most consulting firms, OC&C uses cases to assess candidates.

 

These business problems can be anything a real company faces:

 

• A client wants to enter a new market segment. What factors would you consider in advising them on whether to enter?

 

• A company is experiencing declining profits in one of its product lines. How would you diagnose the problem and recommend solutions?

 

• A private equity client is considering acquiring a target. Should they invest, and at what price?

 

• A manufacturing company is facing rising production costs. How would you identify areas for cost reduction?

 

OC&C case interviews simulate the actual job. Many cases are based on real projects the interviewer has worked on, which is why interviewers can answer follow-up questions and provide data quickly.

 

While real consulting projects last 3 to 9 months, OC&C cases condense the problem into 30 to 45 minutes of focused work.

 

Cases can cover any of the firm's core industries, including retail, consumer goods, leisure, media, technology, and financial services. They can also cover many business situations, such as entering a market, launching a product, acquiring a company, improving profitability, or growing revenue.

 

The good news is that no technical or specialized knowledge is needed. You just need strong structuring, math, and communication skills.

 

How Does the OC&C Interview Process Work?

 

The OC&C interview process has three main stages: an application and online screening, a first round of interviews, and a final round. Cases appear in every interview round, and recently OC&C added an online math test to its screening.

 

Here is the typical flow, though the exact format varies by office and by whether you apply as an undergrad, MBA, or experienced hire:

 

Stage	What to expect
Application and online test	Resume and cover letter review, followed by an online assessment. OC&C now uses a math and reasoning test in an SHL and GMAT style format. Your resume is reviewed alongside your test score.
Video interview	Some offices include a recorded video interview with motivation, situational, and quick-thinking questions before the live rounds.
First round	Two case interviews of about 30 to 45 minutes each, conducted by consultants and managers. Each interview also includes a short fit component.
Interview buddy	OC&C is one of the few firms that pairs you with an associate consultant buddy between rounds. You get feedback from the first round and can ask questions in a casual setting.
Final round	Two to four case interviews of about 45 minutes each, conducted by partners and associate partners. Cases are more demanding, with deeper probing and tougher math. Some offices add a written or presentation case.

 

The two rounds usually break down like this:

 

OC&C first round interview: Two case interviews plus a few fit questions, such as why consulting and why OC&C.

 

OC&C final round interview: Two or more case interviews plus behavioral interview questions, such as a time you disagreed with someone or solved a complex problem.

 

Turnaround between rounds is usually fast, often one to three business days. According to Glassdoor data, the full hiring process averages around 35 days.

 

What Is the OC&C Online Math Test?

 

The OC&C online math test is a pre-interview assessment that measures your numerical reasoning and data interpretation. Candidates report it combines SHL-style and GMAT-style questions, and your resume is reviewed together with your score.

 

The test typically includes tables, graphs, and data extraction and manipulation. Candidate reports describe the questions as basic in difficulty but tight on time, so speed and accuracy matter most.

 

Some candidates also describe a two-part online assessment. One part has a few short questions, including a couple of mini cases like market entry or revenue growth and a motivation or situational question. The second part is the numerical test.

 

To prepare, brush up on mental math without a calculator. Practice quick multiplication, division, percentages, and reading data off charts. Strong case interview math skills carry directly into both the online test and the live cases.

 

What Does an OC&C Case Interview Assess?

 

OC&C case interviews assess five qualities: logical and structured thinking, analytical problem solving, business acumen, communication skills, and personality and cultural fit. Of these, OC&C places the most weight on structuring and problem solving.

 

1. Logical and structured thinking: Consultants need to be organized and methodical to work efficiently.

 

• Can you structure complex problems in a clear, simple way?

 

• Can you take large amounts of information and identify the most important points?

 

• Can you use logic and reason to reach the right conclusions?

 

2. Analytical problem solving: Consultants work with a lot of data to develop recommendations.

 

• Can you read and interpret data well?

 

• Can you do math computations smoothly and accurately?

 

• Can you run the right analyses to draw the right conclusions?

 

3. Business acumen: A strong business instinct helps consultants make the right calls.

 

• Do you understand fundamental business concepts?

 

• Do your conclusions and recommendations make sense from a business perspective?

 

4. Communication skills: Consultants need to collaborate with teammates and clients clearly.

 

• Can you communicate in a clear, concise way?

 

• Are you articulate when you explain your thinking?

 

5. Personality and cultural fit: Consultants work closely in small teams, so fit matters a lot at OC&C.

 

• Are you coachable and easy to work with?

 

• Are you pleasant to be around?

 

All five qualities can be assessed in a single 30 to 60-minute case. That is what makes case interviews so effective at OC&C.

 

How Is the OC&C Case Interview Different From Other Firms?

 

OC&C case interviews are more strategy-focused, hypothesis-driven, and quantitatively demanding than cases at many larger firms. Because OC&C is a pure strategy boutique, its cases lean toward high-stakes commercial questions rather than operational rollout or implementation.

 

Here is what sets OC&C cases apart:

 

• Heavy emphasis on casing. OC&C is known to weight the case portion of the interview more than fit. Your casing ability matters more here than at many other firms.
  
  
• Interviewer-led but candidate-driven. The interviewer controls the flow and asks targeted questions, but expects you to lead the reasoning, form hypotheses, and drive the analysis forward.
  
  
• First principles over memorized frameworks. OC&C rewards tailored, logical structures. Reciting a generic framework will be exposed quickly.
  
  
• Quantitatively intense. Expect frequent mental math like market sizing, contribution margins, breakevens, and growth rates. Numbers are often layered into multi-step calculations, and calculators are not allowed.
  
  
• Consumer and private equity flavor. Many cases are set in consumer goods, retail, leisure, and media, or resemble commercial due diligence for a private equity client.

 

Because the case carries so much weight, expect heavy probing. Interviewers will ask why repeatedly and push you to go deeper when an answer feels surface level.

 

How Do You Solve an OC&C Case Interview?

 

There are six steps to solve an OC&C case interview: understand the case, structure the problem, kick off the case, solve quantitative problems, answer qualitative questions, and deliver a recommendation.

 

Steps four and five may happen in either order depending on the case, but the rest follow the same sequence every time.

 

1. Understand the case

 

Your case begins with the interviewer giving you the background information. Take meticulous notes on the most important details and focus on the context and the objective.

 

Do not be afraid to ask clarifying questions if something is unclear. You can also summarize the background back to the interviewer to confirm your understanding.

 

The most important part of this step is verifying the objective. Not answering the right business question is the quickest way to fail a case.

 

2. Structure the problem

 

Next, develop a framework to help you solve the case. A framework breaks a complex problem into smaller, more manageable components by organizing your ideas into categories.

 

Before you start, it is fine to ask the interviewer for a minute to collect your thoughts.

 

Ideally your framework should be as MECE as possible. MECE means mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive. Each element should have zero overlap with the others, and together they should cover all the important areas of the case.

 

Once you have your major areas, walk the interviewer through your framework. At OC&C, build it from first principles rather than reciting a memorized template. For a complete method to create tailored structures, our guide to case interview frameworks shows you four strategies that work for any case.

 

3. Kick off the case

 

After presenting your framework, start diving into different areas to solve the case. How this begins depends on whether the case is candidate-led or interviewer-led.

 

OC&C cases are generally interviewer-led, so the interviewer will often point you to a specific area or ask a direct question. Even so, you are expected to take ownership of the reasoning and form hypotheses as you go.

 

If the case is candidate-led, propose which area to start with and explain why. There is usually no wrong area to pick first.

 

4. Solve quantitative problems

 

Your OC&C case will almost certainly include math. You may be asked to calculate a profitability or financial metric, or to estimate the size of a market with a market sizing question.

 

The key is to lay out your approach before doing any math. Once the interviewer approves your structure, the rest is just careful execution.

 

Talk through your calculations out loud so the interviewer can follow each step. After you reach an answer, explain how it affects the recommendation you are forming.

 

5. Answer qualitative questions

 

Your case will also have qualitative parts. You might be asked to brainstorm ideas or give your opinion on a business issue.

 

The key is to structure your answer. When brainstorming, organize your ideas into clear categories. When giving an opinion, state your position and then list the reasons that support it.

 

When you finish, connect your answer back to the case objective and the recommendation you are building.

 

6. Deliver a recommendation

 

In the final step, present your recommendation and the main reasons that support it. You do not need to recap everything, so focus only on the most important facts.

 

It is good practice to include next steps you would take with more time or data. These can be areas of your framework you did not explore or open questions you still have.

 

What Are Real OC&C Case Interview Examples?

 

OC&C cases fall into three main types: market sizing, strategic analysis, and operational improvement. The firm publishes a few sample questions, and candidates report many more on interview forums.

 

OC&C provides three brief examples on its careers site. These resemble classic market sizing questions:

 

Example 1: What is the size of the diaper market in the Netherlands?

 

Example 2: How many tennis balls would fit in Wembley Stadium?

 

Example 3: What is the market size of online luxury fashion in China, and how many potential buyers exist?

 

Recent candidates have also reported these market sizing cases:

 

Example 4: Estimate the number of potholes in the UK. (Reported as a tough one.)

 

Example 5: Size the US online dating market.

 

Example 6: How much dog food is sold in the UK each year?

 

Strategy and operations cases reported by candidates include:

 

Example 7: A mobile phone manufacturer is launching a new flagship model. How would you advise on pricing strategy?

 

Example 8: A luxury fashion brand wants to expand. Develop a market segmentation strategy to identify and target customer segments.

 

Example 9: A retail chain faces rising competition from e-commerce. Analyze key competitors and recommend strategies to maintain market share.

 

Example 10: A food and beverage company has supply chain inefficiencies driving up costs. How would you improve efficiency and reduce costs?

 

Example 11: A private equity firm is weighing several acquisition targets in healthcare. Evaluate each and recommend the most promising investment.

 

Example 12: Assess a target company on profitability and a potential merger, with materials given for a written case.

 

Notice how many of these center on consumer products, retail, and private equity. That reflects OC&C's core sectors, so practicing cases in those industries is time well spent.

 

How Hard Is the OC&C Case Interview?

 

OC&C case interviews are difficult and comparable in rigor to top strategy firms. On Glassdoor, candidates rate the interview difficulty around 3.2 out of 5, and roughly 58% describe the experience as positive.

 

The difficulty comes from a few sources. Cases are quantitatively heavy, the math is layered, and you cannot use a calculator. Interviewers probe your assumptions hard and have little tolerance for vague or generic answers.

 

One reason candidates underperform is weak mental math or slow data interpretation, even when their high-level ideas are sound. Another is treating the case like a memorized framework exercise instead of thinking from first principles.

 

The good news is that these are learnable skills. With consistent practice, you can build the structure, speed, and composure that OC&C looks for.

 

What Are the Best OC&C Case Interview Tips?

 

Below are my top ten tips for preparing for OC&C case interviews, based on years of interviewing and coaching candidates.

 

1. Start preparing early

 

Mastering cases takes time. Many of the skills cannot be learned in a day or a week. Start at least a month or two before your interview to give yourself room to learn and practice.

 

2. Learn the right strategies the first time

 

It is much easier to learn good case habits from the start than to unlearn bad ones later. Build the right approach early so you do not have to correct it under pressure.

 

3. Practice with a case partner

 

Practicing with a partner is the best way to simulate a real case. It lets you work on communication, presentation, and collaboration in ways you cannot when casing alone.

 

4. Keep a list of feedback from each case

 

Keep a journal of the feedback you get during practice. Tracking it helps you spot trends and prioritize. If you keep hearing that your structure is weak, that becomes your top focus area.

 

5. Focus on improving one thing at a time

 

After a few practice cases, your feedback list will be long. Pick one thing to nail before each case. This is far more effective than trying to fix everything at once.

 

6. Sense check your numbers

 

Missing or adding a zero is the most common math mistake. After each calculation, do a quick sense check to confirm the order of magnitude. For example, 115 million times 22 should land in the billions because 100 million times 20 equals 2 billion.

 

7. Ask clarifying questions when needed

 

You will not be penalized for asking. If a term is unfamiliar, ask for the definition. If the objective is unclear, ask. If you missed a number, ask the interviewer to repeat it.

 

8. Structure your approach before doing any math

 

Lay out your approach before calculating. A clear structure helps you avoid unnecessary steps and dead ends. Once the interviewer approves it, the rest is simple arithmetic.

 

9. Talk through your calculations out loud

 

Thinking out loud lowers your chance of a mistake and lets the interviewer follow your logic. If you slip, they can jump in to help, but only if they can hear your reasoning.

 

10. Be coachable and easy to work with

 

At the end, the interviewer asks themselves whether they would want to work with you. Take their suggestions, and when they challenge an answer, calmly explain your reasoning while acknowledging their point. This matters even more at OC&C, where small teams and fit weigh heavily.

 

How Should You Prepare for OC&C Case Interviews?

 

To prepare for OC&C case interviews, build your fundamentals first, then practice live cases with a partner, and finally drill the case types OC&C favors. A focused four to six week plan is enough for most candidates.

 

Here is a simple sequence that works:

 

1. Learn the fundamentals of structuring, math, and market sizing.
   
   
2. Work through 10 to 15 live mock cases with a partner.
   
   
3. Focus your practice on OC&C's core case types: market entry, pricing, growth, and commercial due diligence.
   
   
4. Drill mental math without a calculator until it is fast and accurate.

 

Practicing the right case types pays off because OC&C draws heavily from its sectors. Spend extra time on market entry case interviews and on due diligence case interviews, since private equity work is central to what OC&C does.

 

If you want to learn cases quickly and the right way, my case interview course walks you through proven strategies in as little as 7 days.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How hard is it to get into OC&C?

 

Getting into OC&C is competitive. The firm hires a small number of top candidates and weights the case interview heavily. You need strong structuring, fast and accurate math, and clear communication to stand out. Candidates rate the interview difficulty around 3.2 out of 5 on Glassdoor.

 

How many rounds are in the OC&C interview process?

 

OC&C typically uses two interview rounds after the online screening. The first round is usually two cases with consultants and managers. The final round is two to four cases with partners and associate partners. Both rounds include short fit components, and some offices add a written case.

 

Does OC&C use a math test?

 

Yes. OC&C recently added an online math and numerical reasoning test to its screening, reported to be in an SHL and GMAT style format. It usually includes tables, graphs, and data interpretation. Your resume is reviewed alongside your test score, so it is worth preparing.

 

Are OC&C cases candidate-led or interviewer-led?

 

OC&C cases are generally interviewer-led but candidate-driven. The interviewer controls the flow and asks targeted questions, but expects you to lead the reasoning, form hypotheses, and synthesize conclusions. Some cases are more candidate-led depending on the interviewer.

 

What types of cases does OC&C ask?

 

OC&C cases fall into three main types: market sizing, strategic analysis like market entry or pricing, and operational improvement like cost reduction. Many cases are set in consumer goods, retail, leisure, or media, or resemble commercial due diligence for a private equity client.

 

Does OC&C pay well?

 

Yes. OC&C pays competitive salaries, generally below the top three strategy firms but above many Big Four consulting arms. Compensation varies by office, role, and experience level, and the firm offers a strong benefits package. Employees rate pay and benefits highly.

 

How long does it take to hear back from OC&C?

 

Turnaround between rounds is usually fast, often one to three business days. According to Glassdoor data, the full hiring process averages around 35 days, though this varies by office and recruiting cycle.

 

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