How does it compare to a job at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)? Hard to get? Good pay/benefits?

Young Professional's Program if you're under the age of 32. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTJOBSNEW/0,,contentMDK:23149336~menuPK:8453554~pagePK:8453902~piPK:8453359~theSitePK:8453353,00.html

But now's really not the best time to join the World Bank. Senior management is trying to reduce the number of staff so positions aren't that common (although as people noted you could still get an STC contract. (ETC contracts no longer exist).

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

right now is not a great time to try. the reorg has done a number on the institution

You don't have to have a PhD, I have an MA. the better your university the easier it is. but ultimately its best to get in through consulting, to have areputation and be sought out, to network like hell...there is a lot of luck to it. Operational jobs do not require PhDs...they have PMs for projects, etc.

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?

The pay is outrageous and so are the benefits. You have global impact, you can do academic work in a non-academic environment...but I would guess the great pay. I professional with 5 years makes 100k, which is not normal for USAID, etc.

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?

They are very cushy do-nothing positions. The World Bank had its own constitution which insulates it from U.S. laws. I'd never work there. It has done more harm than good. Middle class people in rich countries making loans to rich people in poor countries.

A few friends from grad school work there. We have PhDs from a top ten school. One friend who is a bank employee had a Nobel Laureate as his adviser, and another has rare language skills. Another established himself as an expert in international finance by publishing extensively in that field.

Yes, if you graduate from Princeton or MIT, it's considered slightly less prestigious than academia, but for people who don't want to go into academia, ( and there are some of those in every top department) it's considered a top job.

When I meet someone who is not an economist who has a WB job, they generally are experts in technical fields (engineering) or finance. It'tougher to get a job as an American, and there isn't as much job security as there used to be. When I worked there in the 80's as a wide eyed research assistant, it was reeaallly bloated, and there were more perks.

The world Bank is a top tier option.

Well I did work before DH moved to Geneva. Once we got there it became clear we'd be on the move every couple of years and I gave up on the career. Also DC is not a good place to be for my line of work.

As far as I can see, Economics PhDs have three options - academia or international organizations/central banks or consulting/wall Street. The last option is out bc 22 year olds with a BA can get in. For those uninterested in academia like my husband,

Anonymous wrote:
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.

Why can't you have a career of your own? You are permitted to work in the US, you know English, so what stops you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP whose husband works there after having worked at the WEF. We are not Americans and I am honestly surprised folks who live in DC have no idea it is considered a very elite place to live.

Actually at top economics departments in the US, it's considered a fallback. I'm honestly surprised you don't know that.

She probably knows, don't pierce her bubble...

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.)

Good benefits (health care, retirement, 5 weeks vacation) tax-free salary if you are a non-US citizen. Decent environment and for many people, especially foreigners one of the few chances to work in the US

Anonymous wrote:I am a non profit professional very interested in working for the WB some day. Can you please tell me how people wind up there? What sort of education do you need to have? What prior work experience? Age cap?

any advice would be deeply appreciated!

Buy a lotto ticket
Pray
Repeat

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm the PP whose husband works there after having worked at the WEF. We are not Americans and I am honestly surprised folks who live in DC have no idea it is considered a very elite place to live.

Huh. Feeling bad you aren't getting the respect you feel you deserve?

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.

How do you compare with Executives in terms of status?