Hello, this is TJ, founder of Alpha Advisors.

More students than ever are now aiming to win offers from global investment banks, hedge funds, and asset management firms.
However, many are unsure about how much preparation is actually required or what kind of financial knowledge is expected.

In this article, I will explain the core finance preparation that successful candidates consistently carry out to secure offers in these highly competitive fields.

What Kind of Financial Preparation Is Required in Global Finance?

The finance knowledge assessed in selection processes can be divided into two main stages: (1) document screening and (2) interviews.

(1) Document Screening: Stock Pitch Assignment
In some firms, especially hedge funds, applicants are asked to submit a stock pitch, an investment report that evaluates a company and recommends whether to buy or sell.
If you cannot produce a stock pitch, you will not even make it to the interview stage.

(2) Interview Stage
During interviews, you will be asked about topics such as macro and microeconomic trends, individual companies, academic finance, your own stock pitch, and current events.
Many students believe that “I’m still a student, so I don’t know yet” is an acceptable answer—but it’s not.
Interviewers will test whether you are truly interested in finance by asking increasingly detailed and technical questions.

In internships, the evaluation becomes even more practical.
Global investment banks and hedge funds often assign tasks like the following to determine whether you can contribute immediately:

・Submit a stock pitch report and presentation on a designated company within one week
・Conduct valuation using a DCF model and estimate a target price
・Perform comparative analysis of multiple companies (for example, Toyota, Honda, Mazda) and present an investment recommendation
・Analyze how macro factors such as interest rates, exchange rates, and commodities affect corporate performance
・Develop a portfolio and risk analysis based on the latest economic and market news

These challenges cannot be solved through memorization alone.
Firms want to see if you can think independently, build hypotheses, and support conclusions with numbers.

In other words, those who cannot perform at this level will not receive offers.
That is why you must start now to develop the advanced finance skills required for documents, interviews, and internships.

Stock Pitch (Equity Research Report)

One of the most crucial skills is the ability to prepare a professional investment report.
You must be able to analyze a single company in depth and calculate its intrinsic value using DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) and financial modeling.

・Analyze financial statements to assess stability, profitability, and growth potential
・Conduct competitive comparisons (comps analysis) to understand market positioning
・Identify risk factors and growth drivers
・Present clear “Buy” or “Sell” scenarios backed by logic and data

You must be able to construct these analyses in Excel and explain them quantitatively.
Without this ability, you cannot compete in global finance or hedge fund recruitment.
In fact, stock pitches are often part of internship selection and serve as a major factor in determining who advances.

Financial Knowledge Assessed in Interviews

Interviews in global finance are far more challenging than most expect.
Questions typically fall into five major categories:

1. Stock pitch discussion
2. Macroeconomic market understanding
3. Individual company and sector analysis
4. Current events, politics, and geopolitics
5. Academic and theoretical finance knowledge

These questions are at a level beyond what you can learn through classes or self-study.
They require real-time analysis of dynamic elements such as markets, earnings, interest rates, and global risks—and your ability to respond instantly and logically.

Common examples include:

・Which company are you currently following, and why?
・What is your outlook on the USD/JPY exchange rate? Explain logically.
・What do Beta, PBR, and EV/EBITDA mean?
・Which industries or macro trends do you expect to grow in the future?

These questions may seem difficult, but with consistent market observation and practice, you will naturally become able to answer them.
Ultimately, what interviewers want to know is simple: Do you truly love finance?

Alpha’s Finance Preparation Programs

At Alpha Advisors, we offer two intensive programs designed for those aiming to build a career in global investment banking, asset management, and hedge funds.

① Investor Development Program
・Daily analysis of macroeconomics, interest rates, currencies, and industry trends
・Create daily market reports to strengthen analytical and critical thinking

② Asset Management and Hedge Fund Advisory
・Conduct in-depth analysis of a single company (financial modeling, DCF, research report)
・Develop a professional-level stock pitch equivalent to that of top analysts

By training in these two areas simultaneously, participants grow into finance professionals with both breadth and depth of expertise.
Many Alpha students have successfully secured offers from leading global firms such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and BlackRock.

Conclusion: In Global Finance and Hedge Funds, Those Who Win Are the Ones Who Prepare

Those who land offers at global investment banks, hedge funds, and asset management firms share one common trait, they prepare seriously.

Today’s selection processes demand individuals who can think independently and communicate through numbers.
Such skills cannot be acquired through self-study or university classes alone.
They must be developed by analyzing real markets and being trained directly by professionals.

At Alpha, numerous students have received offers from top global institutions including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, and Citadel.
If your goal is to join a top-tier global finance firm, the time to prepare is now.

With 17 years of proven results, Alpha, led by TJ, former Sumitomo Corporation, Chicago MBA, and Goldman Sachs IBD, will train you intensively. Consult Alpha Advisors today.
If you are serious about joining the world’s top firms, start your preparation with professionals who know how to win.

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TJ Profile

TJ: Formerly with Sumitomo Corporation, where he worked in the Corporate Accounting Department overseeing budgeting, financial reporting, and performance management for over 800 domestic and overseas group companies, as well as IR (Investor Relations) activities. Selected as the youngest trainee for Sumitomo Corporation of America (New York), where he contributed to the restructuring of a U.S. electric arc furnace steel business invested in by Sumitomo. Later joined the Project Finance Department, where he was engaged in arranging large-scale financings for infrastructure projects in developing countries and financing for Jupiter Telecommunications. Selected as a company-sponsored candidate for overseas MBA programs.

Earned his MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, with concentrations in Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Organizational Management. Founder of the University of Chicago Japanese Association. Initiated and executed the school’s first-ever “Japan Trip”, which has since become an annual tradition.

Subsequently joined Goldman Sachs Japan’s Investment Banking Division, where he advised on numerous M&A transactions in the media and consumer sectors, supported capital raising including IPOs, and worked on private equity investments and corporate restructuring assignments.

Selected as one of only six fellows (out of over 200 applicants) for the 4th Entrepreneurial Leadership Program of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), where he received mentorship from leading entrepreneurs including Hideo Sawada, Chairman of H.I.S.

Served as President of the Chicago Booth Alumni Association in Japan (2006–2010). Has guided numerous candidates to admission at top MBA programs (Harvard, Stanford, and other leading schools in the U.S., Europe, and Asia), graduate schools, universities, and boarding schools. Track record of placing students at leading global firms including Mitsubishi Corporation, McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Google, Big 4 consulting/FAS, Dentsu, Toyota, MUFG Bank, Nomura Securities, among others.

Renowned for his rigorous one-on-one coaching for TOEFL, GMAT, IELTS, and GRE, with a reputation for pushing candidates to fully complete their preparation. Highly regarded for his ability to design and achieve career and academic goals with unmatched quality and precision. As a result, he is in high demand as an advisor, with numerous requests to work directly under his guidance.