Optimity Associate Interview Questions
& Process

After a referral, there are usually about two phone interviews. Questions differ but generally cover your experience and cultural fit, as Optimity values its culture highly. The next step is a 'super day' at their office, involving multiple in-person interviews with staff of various experience levels and a case study. I did the case study first, followed by interviews with an Associate, Manager, Senior Manager, and Partner. Most interviews felt informal, focusing on getting to know me and asking behavioral questions like 'tell me when you had to deal with X situation.' I recommend the STAR method for these to showcase your thinking and skills. It's crucial to connect your past experiences to Optimity's needs. Research the company and talk to employees beforehand to understand their work and gauge your fit.

First I had a phone screen with a long-tenured consultant. Then, I was invited for an in-person interview that involved back-to-back meetings with at least 5 people, ranging from Associate to Partner level. This part focused heavily on my experience and behavioral aspects, and included one case study of low to medium difficulty. I thought it was good they focused on cultural fit. However, I wasn't happy with how long HR took to respond after the interview; they only became more responsive when I mentioned another offer. If my interview experience with the team hadn't been great, I would have likely accepted the other offer due to the frustrating back-and-forth with HR.

I had a 30-minute chat with a senior advisor from my university. About a week later, I was invited to a Super Day at their Manhattan office. The Super Day had a social lunch hour for networking, followed by the actual interviews. There were 4 interviews, including one simple case study. I found out about 3 weeks later that I didn't get an offer. The questions were mostly behavioral. They really emphasized finding the right 'fit,' and it felt a bit like a clique with a start-up vibe.