World Bank culture
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Anonymous
I think your neighbor has a loose relationship with the truth...I don't know about the salary, but I can tell you that I have a family member who works for the WB and they specifically returned to school for a PhD in order to move up in the WB. Without a higher degree it is VERY hard (and could be described as next to impossible) to get a higher level position in today's WB. I also know quite a few people who work for both the WB and IMF - all of them have higher degrees. I can't speak to the culture, but they do get very good benefits and lots of vacation time. However, it can come at the cost of quite a bit of travel (hence the large amount of air miles earned) and long hours. |
Anonymous
WB uses the most expensive airline, even if you can get a cheaper flight, you got to take the approved carrier |
Anonymous
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I used to work there (analyst level) and my impression is that WB culture is different depending on the level (managerial vs admin vs analyst), department, and whether its HQ or country office.
Admins are largely lazy and not too professional, with a few great exceptions as always Analysts are mostly smart and motivated but it is difficult for them to advance and get a more or less permanent position Managers either work long hours with lots of travel, or sit on their behind 9-5, attending meetings where their only function is to use all this WB newspeak and praise themselves. At all levels there is constant "bulldog under carpet" type of struggle for extra financing and contract renewal and extension. Benefits, flexibility, pay are very good. |
Anonymous
No, it's possible if the person has been at the Bank 15+ years. They used to be a little less insistent on education requirements for certain depts. |
Anonymous
| A quick question: Recently I applied for a job at WB. Is that true that without a connection there "no chance" of getting a job interview or even a job offer. I got this opinion from of one of the current employees from WB. Personally, I think this is very unfair. What is any of your view on this subject? |
Anonymous
If you are US, you have to pay taxes on it. Only non-US non-green card holders don't have to pay taxes and they get a reduced salary as a result. |
Anonymous
| I used to know a couple of people who worked at WB, one is still there. They were both related to a high level govt executive from another country. Yes, I have heard that the higher ups often bring in family/close friends for cushy jobs at various levels. But WB's huge kwim, hopefully it's not all like that. Good luck. |
Anonymous
Or, everyone gets paid well, and the US people get paid extra to cover the horrors of having to pay tax |
Anonymous
| Does anyone here know of or looking for a nanny and able to sponsor a G5 or A3 visa? |
Anonymous
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Bank staff salaries are comfortable, but nothing extravagant in terms of this area's skyrocketing salaries. In fact, Bank incomes and benefits used to seem a lot more lavish a generation ago when staff were paid notably more than area averages with a lot of allowances (schooling etc). Since then salaries basically have just kept pace with inflation while other employers have ratcheted up more dramatically.
That said, as a mid-grade staffer, it's still a pretty good wage. I'm paid net but if I gross up my salary and allowances (and account for the value of pension contributions) it's equivalent to a gross US taxable salary of 200k after ~11 years of work experience. But a high end masters at minimum is a prerequisite. Anyhow the net salary ranges and avg per grade are published each year publicly in our annual report. Most of us are paid additional cash allowance for the first decade if we are not Americans and Americana get an allowance to cover tax obligations. |
Anonymous
I know that at the IMF the us citizens and green card holders receive a tax allowance |
Anonymous
There is always a chance, but that chance is quite small, because the pool of alternative candidates is too strong. People "off the street" do get hired for unique skills or reputation in their area, but most of the time - and I say it in the most general of terms - the path to staff employment at the Bank is to work as a short-term consultant for a few years and find a good fit at some department that will have enough need to create a staff position and slot you into this position. For most advertised jobs, the manager already knows who will get hired. I can see how it is unfair, but this is how it is. The hiring process is difficult, lengthy and expensive, so they prefer to go with someone they know. I was a consultant at my unit for two years before they realized they can't do without this, and created a staff position, for which I was a shoo-in. Although the job wasn't advertised with a "preferred candidate" label (which some of them do have), there was no way anyone from the outside could have competed with me, because I've been doing that job for two years and knew it better than anyone. Also, people move within the Bank all the time, and internal candidates often get a first shot at available positions because we are expected to move around, and networking is obviously easier if you are already there. |
Anonymous
| is the culture rapey like DSK? |
Anonymous
no and that one wasn't either. |
Anonymous
Yup. Even the security guys have to know someone up ... |