Advice: How to get a job at the World Bank?
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Anonymous
Huh. Feeling bad you aren't getting the respect you feel you deserve? |
Anonymous
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A great help is to be a woman. There is a big push to up gender diversity.
While yes there are some of us doing very well without masters degrees, we are all aware that walking in off the street today we would never get our jobs. I am a fairly high level with "just" a bachelors. I am certainly in the minority. There are even a few folks without Bachelors but they are stuck in lower level positions and cannot progress without the degree. As this point a masters is a must. Most, if not all, of the newer and younger admins have masters degrees. As for the secretaries/admins, none of them have easy jobs. It is 2015 so these people don't just schedule meetings and get coffee. Just check the website and apply for what seems to be a good fit. Write a cover letter that doesn't just say "As a little girl/boy I always wanted to work at the Bank". That said also don't make the cover letter into a 2 pages essay on your life. MOST IMPORTANT!!! NO TYPOS. In my dept I participate in hiring regularly. On average we are looking at 100 applicants per position. The smallest thing can get you moved into the NO pile. But this is all basic info for applying to any job. In a tight market you need to be sure you stand out in a good way. You don't want to be that CV that is such a poor match that the reader chuckles and tosses you aside. If you are applying for multiple jobs in the same dept, we do talk to each other. If we see your CV for several jobs, and you NEVER change your cover letter to demonstrate why you are a fit for the particular job, or worse you mention a different position you are pretty much toast. There are 99 other applicants. If you apply at the IFC, know the difference between the IFC and the Bank/IBRD. Can't hurt to know this even if you are not applying at the IFC. Fit with the goals and mission of the Bank is important. Do some reading and be prepared to work it into the conversation. Good luck to anyone who applies. Things are busy and tough here at the Bank but it is a great place to work |
Anonymous
Officer title - Professional level. 15 years of experience - 5 of which with managerial/direct report level. MBA and several professional certificates. Feels like a step backwards career level wise but I think it's worth it. |
Anonymous
congratulations!! 
Very cool |
Anonymous
Not the PP who asked but congrats on the job. Welcome to the Bank family! I also took a step back 16 years ago when I joined from a contractor role. It took a while but I was able to get on par with my peers. |
Anonymous
| Not sure this is true, but I've heard World Bank employees are exempt from fed taxes. Seems like a pretty good reason to work there. |
Anonymous
I think that's only if you're not American. My MIL worked there almost her entire adult career- 25+ years. She just retired at 60. She never paid taxes and has a great pension plan, and now WB is helping her become a citizen. She said it has changed a lot there, and in addition to what she has told me, I know they are under scrutiny for their growing reliance on contractors instead of in-house employees. I thought I heard there was some investigation into that, but I could be wrong. |
Anonymous
Pay scales are adjusted accordingly. So a US citizen would be at a higher pay rate than an international recruit because they have to pay taxes. So that's not the big draw. Most people like the perceived 'glamour' of international travel, working with governments of other countries, etc. I've been there 10+ years and am probably a little jaded now!! |
Anonymous
And as an AMerican you have to pay these taxes 4 times a year. also if you are dual (us and another) the WB defaults to your American citizenship when stationed in DC which blows cause you don't get the benefits of being an expat, even if you are an American in passport only as my husband is. |
Anonymous
Don't forget this rate does not cover our self-employed portion of SS. So we actually don't make the same as our international recruit counterparts even when our salary is "grossed up". Still a great place to work but there are NO tax breaks. The Bank pays most but not all of our tax obligations. The US governments still gets its "fair' share from the Bank and American Staff. Taxes are not a reason to work here. Agreed on the perceived glamour. I am heading to India for the 2nd time in 3 months soon. I love India but it is not typically the glamourpus place people expect me to say when I remark that I have a work trip. |
Anonymous
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Most people I know get in through an initial STC gig. If they're good, word spreads. Then an ETC position is created, and then maybe a staff position comes through at the end of those 2-3 years.
But that was before this re-org nonsense and the backlash against term consultancies. It's not clear they want more perm staff either, so I think hiring's at a bit of a stand-still until they sort out what the right balance is. |
Anonymous
At the risk of sounding extremely condescending, we are definitely getting the respect we deserve in the circles that matter. And by we I mean my husband since I am just a tag along spouse who is unable to have a career. A bitter pill to swallow but that's a whole other can of worms. |
Anonymous
Actually at top economics departments in the US, it's considered a fallback. I'm honestly surprised you don't know that. |
Anonymous
Congratulations on being so elite. You sound delightful. |
Anonymous
I'm the PP who asked the previous question about why was the reason jobs were in such high demand. I'm not sure why you'd be surprised that someone in a non banking or economics field would not necessarily know about the greatness that is the World Bank. And most people haven't answered my question. There are plenty of other jobs that seem glamorous that really aren't. I was just asking if that was really the case. But I suppose impressing people in your "circle" is a good a reason as any to get or keep a job. And there wasn't really any risk in your statement. You knew you were going to be condescending. It's come through on your previous posts. It amazes me that someone could be so smug about a job that someone else has.... |