Advice: How to get a job at the World Bank?

[Anonymous]

It is relatively uncommon to get a WB job off the street. It happens, but it is less common than other routes.

Two most common routes are to have a similar job at a similar organization, i.e. a comms officer at UNESCO transitioning into a comms officer role at the Bank, and to start as a short-term consultant, get to know the people and the organization, and transition into a staff role years later. The second option is by far the most common. It took me two years to get to a staff position, but I was very lucky in terms of the business need and fit with the department.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm genuinely curious after reading this. What is it about the World Bank that everyone wants a job there so badly and it is so hard to get a job there?

Well, that depends on what you value. I think the Bank is a great place to work. That said, it has its own ulcers like all other places, but it's still pretty great:

- a conglomerate of genuinely smart, top caliber people who have a well rounded, educated, global outlook, read, publish and are aware of the world around them
- very diverse and international
- rich on learning offerings. There is a lecture, workshop, guest speaker, class, etc. every single day, more than one. It really is a great place to learn stuff for free.
- even if you are in a nonglamorous role, it's still glamorous on occasion. You may be unimportant, but you're close to important people. I still get a thrill when I walk around the atrium during Annual Meetings - all the people from every corner of the world, the buzz, the thoughts, the events...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm genuinely curious after reading this. What is it about the World Bank that everyone wants a job there so badly and it is so hard to get a job there?

I'd like to know this too. Sincere question from someone who's not that familiar with the World Bank and what it does. (But I'm googling right now.)

I have been trying to get into the World Bank for years without success. From this side of the fence (and talking to people I know there)
- the pay is great
- the benefits and paid leave are over the moon
- opportunities for travel
- you get to work on some of the most important international projects on earth

Like any organization, there are complaints and not everyone is raking in the big bucks but it still seems like a pretty sweet gig

If you're interested in international development, evidence, and economics, they have several product lines/services that are the best out there. There's also plenty that they're lagging on and just like any big bureaucracy, there's plenty of dead weight slowing things down, but it's interesting work, the staff comes from all over the world, you have the chance to do something excellent, and the pay is good. The hours are decent. It's well respected, so if you want to move on to another company, your time at the Bank will reflect well on you.