MIDDLE EAST - Future Colleagues

Harald

Senior Manager

Working on different projects in ever changing industries, meeting people from new companies is what drew me to strategy consulting. Each assignment is unique, allowing you to learn something new every day. Strategy consulting gives you the opportunity to help people on a strategic level that may fundamentally change the way this company is operating.

As you progress through the company you continue learning. At the beginning you are responsible for delivering pieces of research and specific slides, you then take ownership of full workstreams and later you start managing entire projects.

When applying, the first hurdle is the cover letter and CV. Make sure they are clearly structured, easily readable and there are no mistakes on either. Your case study should be well structured having a hands-on approach offering us creative solutions. When you are invited for interviews either via telephone or in person make sure you are on time and prepared to go through additional cases, be honest and true to yourself.

Tomas

Associate Consultant

I joined OC&C as in intern and then was offered a permanent position as an Associate Consultant.

From the beginning, I have found work life at OC&C challenging and motivating. Since I started my first project I've been working face to face with clients, understanding their specific needs and proposing innovative and customised solutions. This has allowed me to develop not only my analytical and critical thinking skills, but also my soft skills as well.

I have seen the level of responsibility given to me rise steeply, which shows that in OC&C you will always be given the chance to have a fast-paced career progression. Moreover, OC&C encourages its consultants to participate in activities to further develop their skills. A good example is that the company has given me the flexibility to study and work at the same time, I am currently pursuing my Executive MBA at London Business School with classes in the UK and Dubai.

My advice to potential candidates is to prepare before the case intervuews. Then, during the case analysis, breakdown the problem and analyse differenet alternatives before rushing to conclusions. Take the interviewer through your thinking process and do not hesitate to ask questions to guide your analysis.

Adnan

Associate Consultant

Before joining OC&C I used to work in the Governmental sector and NGOs in Palestine, I was highly involved in politics, media, foreign aid, and lobbying. In 2007 I moved to Brussels - Belgium and started an MBA course.

When I decided to further my education, my main driver was to obtain the ability to make a career transition and to work in different sectors. A career in consulting was my choice because it gives the opportunity to work in a variety of industries, at diverse companies, on different projects and in varied roles.

Joining OC&C was a perfect match; as it allowed me to use my previous work experience and to practice the new skills I learned during the MBA. Moreover OC&C gave me the chance to learn and develop in a fast and challenging environment.

Work life at OC&C is really interesting and you get fully engaged from day one. Colleagues and team members are very helpful and supportive; as time goes by strong ties are developed based on trust and collaboration which allows you to celebrate achievements.

Louis

Associate Consultant

After I graduated in Business Administration with a specialty in Finance from University School of Financial Studies (CUNEF) in Madrid, I left Spain seeking new horizons and cross-cultural experiences and went to work for two years for the project finance team at National Bank of Abu Dhabi. It was not long before I realized that my professional interest were very much related to the knowledge generating processes and creative thinking that strategic consultancy offers and demands you.

OC&C is a group of smart, professional and cool people with good sense of humor. There is a very strong sense of team work and you can easily sail your way around the projects with your colleagues’ wind. The wide nature and complexity of the projects that the firm is engaged in is a constant motivation and makes working life very exciting.

My advice to prospective candidates is to wear a tie to the interview (it worked for me!), prepare practice cases very very well and be as transparent as possible to show what are your interests and goals in life and where are your limits to achieve them.

Bjoern

Consultant

I began my career by founding a software company in 1999, while I was still in school. Then, I took up Business Information Science while staying actively involved in my company’s activities. After my studies and some further years of being an entrepreneur, I was looking for a new challenge. Therefore I decided to switch gears and enrolled in the MBA program at the WHU in Germany. After this enriching experience, I then chose the next milestone and joined OC&C.

I chose strategy consulting as a career as I have been an entrepreneur for approximately 9 years and during that time I have had great fun and experiences consulting my clients in the different aspects of my company’s software products, always with senior management. Therefore I decided to take my consulting experience to a strategic level and join a management consultancy. I also knew that this stream would ensure that I am continually challenged and am able to expand my knowledge with the help of a variety of projects across industry sectors.

I was looking for a medium-sized consulting firm where I would be able to keep and leverage my entrepreneurial spirit. I found during the interview process, that OC&C offered a great opportunity that matched my expectations. Also, during my MBA I had the opportunity to meet with many consultants from OC&C that visited our campus for company presentations. It was by meeting them that I was convinced that it is the people at OC&C that make it a great place to work at.

Adeel

Manager

I spent the initial part of my career in the US and Europe working in the finance, business development and marketing organizations of large pharmaceutical companies.

After completing my MBA at the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University) I decided to make the transition into management consulting because it offered me an ideal opportunity to gain experience across a breadth of industries and service offerings.

I decided to move to the Middle East and join OC&C because I was looking for a mid sized management consulting firm that had extensive experience in and deep client relationships across the Middle East. I knew OC&C was the right firm for me when I saw that it had a global presence but still managed to retain such an entrepreneurial spirit.

Rami

Senior Consultant

I am a civil engineer by training but I never really liked what a career in civil engineering had to offer me. So, I switched paths and invested in an MBA after which I worked for Ernst & Young. After a couple of years, I went to Oxford to get an MSc in Management. I still had consulting in mind after I was done but I didn’t really like your typical ‘Big Four’ approach to consulting; I wanted to work for a strategy boutique as I firmly believed that this would provide me with the breadth of experiences and challenges that I was looking for….enter OC&C!

Not before too long at OC&C, I found myself taking charge of entire work streams; something virtually unheard of for consultants working in some of the other consulting firms. OC&C provided me with the opportunity to grow quickly and take on larger responsibilities.

The best thing about OC&C is the people. You will find yourself surrounded by a group of professional, motivated, and above all, fun people. Another good thing about working at OC&C is the work – life balance; you will find that your personal needs are taken seriously and accommodated as much as possible.

A few tips to prospective applicants; make sure you practiced a few case studies before walking into the interview. Furthermore, try to relax and be yourself; we are just as interested in your personality as we are in your analytical abilities. Finally, remember that the interview is a two way process! So feel free to ask whatever questions that come to mind.

Ahmad

Associate Consultant

I graduated with a degree in Computer and Communications Engineering from the American University of Beirut, after which I came to Abu Dhabi and worked as a software developer for a while. I always used to find myself drawn to thinking about problems at a higher strategic level rather than regular operations. That, along with the prospect of creating measurable and sustainable impact on big clients, ranging from small companies to cities as a whole, is what sparked my interest in strategy consulting.

Joining OC&C greatly boosted my career and business knowledge. From day one I was given responsibilities on a project aimed at boosting the media sector of a major city. And as days pass my responsibilities are increasing and my knowledge is becoming deeper and more diverse.

I think one of the best things at OC&C is the people. Teamwork is sensational; In short, it leaves the client happy, it leaves you happy because you always feel that everyone on the team is helping you improve and capitalize on your strengths, and it is always loads of fun.

As a piece of advice to prospective applicants I say: Be logical in your assumptions, be structured in your response, and most importantly, be yourself!

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