The Young Professionals Program is a starting point for an exciting career in the World Bank. It is a unique opportunity for young people with a passion for international development, who have the potential to become future leaders of our institution.
The Young Professionals Program is designed for highly qualified and motivated young people skilled in areas relevant to the World Bank's operations such as economics, finance, education, public health, social sciences, engineering, urban planning, and natural resource management. In order to be competitive for this highly selective Program you must have demonstrated a commitment to development, supported by academic success, professional achievement, and potential for leadership. We value diversity in our work place, and encourage qualified men and women, including those with disabilities, with diverse professional, academic, and cultural backgrounds, to apply to the Young Professionals Program.
If you are selected to join the World Bank as a Young Professional, your assignment will be enriched through on-the-job learning, specialized training, a poverty immersion assignment, and mentoring. It is an opportunity to experience development and gain exposure to the World Bank's operations and policies like no other!
The following are minimum qualifications you need to be considered for the Young Professionals Program, although candidates selected tend to exceed these requirements. Please note that no exceptions can be made for these requirements.
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Be a citizen of a member country of the World Bank
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Be 32 years of age or younger when entering the YP Program in September 2007 (born on or after September 30, 1974, for this selection year)
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Have obtained a Master's degree or equivalent at the time of submitting your application
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Be fluent in English
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Specialize in a field relevant to the World Bank's operations such as economics, finance, education, public health, social sciences, engineering, urban planning, and natural resource management.
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Have significant relevant professional experience or continued academic study at the doctoral level
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Display a commitment and passion for international development
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Possess outstanding academic credentials
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Have solid professional expertise and experience
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Exhibit excellent client engagement and team leadership skills suitable for working in an international organization
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Have international development country experience
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Have working knowledge of additional languages relevant to the World Bank's work
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Be flexible and have the ability to work in different areas of the institution
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Be willing to better understand poverty issues by having your work focus on the lowest income countries
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Be motivated to relocate and undertake country assignments
We are accepting on-line applications
for the 2007 selection until August 31, 2006.
Please use the "Apply Now" button on the right hand side of this screen to access the online application form. Applications by email will not be considered.
Every year during, the period of May 1st to August 31st, applicants are asked to submit their applications on-line.
Once you decide to apply, please make sure that you meet the minimum qualifications before completing your application to the Young Professionals Program. In order to ensure a complete review of your candidacy, you may want to read the following guidelines.
Application Guidelines:
Please make sure that you answer all questions completely.
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Note that you must answer all questions marked by *, as they are required fields. The application will not be accepted if these fields are not completed.
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Provide the most current contact information. This information should be valid for a period of one year. In case your contact information changes during the selection process, please
the updated data.
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Ensure that you have correctly spelled your e-mail address, since this will be our main way of communicating with you regarding your candidacy.
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Remember to enter your complete phone number (country code + city code + number).
After you answer all the questions, you MUST attach your curriculum vitae (CV) or resume in Microsoft Word (doc) or Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format. Please do NOT password protect your CV. -
Bear in mind that ONLY your first application will be considered for the Program. Also, once you submit your application, you will not be able to make any further changes.
Those selected to the Program spend 18 to 20 months as Young Professionals before they are confirmed into a regular position in the World Bank.
Professional Experience
Rotational Assignments: Most Young Professionals take up two rotational assignments in different units in the World Bank, where they gain valuable on-the-job experience. They are usually a member of a team, where they are expected to make significant contributions towards the unit's work program while they gain a broad overview of the World Bank's policies and work. Young Professionals have the opportunity to strategically select their rotational assignments so that they can maximize their learning and exposure.
International Travel: Young Professionals generally participate in two to three trips to developing countries during each assignment, which is an important aspect of our work. These trips present opportunities to experience first hand the challenges of development and also familiarize Young Professionals with the World Bank's clients. Some Young Professionals take up rotational assignments in one of our country offices based in a developing country.
Training Opportunities
Young Professionals Orientation: Young Professionals participate in a specially designed orientation where they become familiar with the operations of the World Bank so that they can integrate into their work teams smoothly and efficiently.
Introduction to Finance: Young Professionals who have limited expertise in finance join an intensive program specifically focused to increase their knowledge and hone their analytical skills.
Individual Training Opportunities: Young Professionals have the opportunity to participate in a multitude of training activities organized within the institution as well as seminars offered outside the World Bank.
Grass Roots Immersion Program (GRIP): Those Young Professionals with little exposure to poverty partake in an immersion program where they are able to observe first-hand the everyday lives of the poor, and learn from these experiences.
Young Professional Discussions: A series of discussions are organized for Young Professionals around the procedures, policies, and business culture of the World Bank. Topics cover subjects such as "Integrating into World Bank Teams", "The World Bank's Business Directions" and "Performance and Feedback".
Mentoring, Coaching & Support
Peer Mentors: Young Professionals are assigned a peer mentor from the previous year's group, based on their professional interests and cultural background. Peer mentors can be valuable in helping new recruits better understand the expectations and challenges of the Program.
Senior Mentors: Young Professionals have the opportunity to build a lasting professional relationship with an experienced senior staff member in the World Bank, through the Senior Mentoring Program. These relationships are particularly useful for receiving career guidance. Young Professionals are also paired with a senior mentor in the department they are assigned for their rotational assignment.
Young Professionals Program Office: The Office is dedicated to recruiting and helping integrate Young Professionals into the World Bank. It is led by an a Program Manager (a former Young Professional) who coordinates various activities designed to support Young Professionals, including mentoring them, helping formulate career strategies, and representing them with institutional management. The office is a one-stop-shop for Young Professionals looking for support and guidance.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary: As entry-level professional in the World Bank, each Young Professional receives an internationally competitive salary based on their education and professional experience.
Health, Life, Accident and Other Insurance Programs: Young Professionals and their family including domestic partners may choose from three comprehensive medical/dental benefit plans available, with no preexisting condition exclusions if enrollment is within 31 days of entry-on-duty. The World Bank also provides basic life and accident insurance to all staff at no cost, and staff can also elect optional life and accident insurance plans. The World Bank also provides disability and Worker's Compensation coverage to staff at no cost.
Pension Plan: The World Bank sponsors a comprehensive pension plan for all staff. Both staff and the World Bank make a contribution towards a pension which is utilized upon retirement.
Paid Leave: New staff receive 26 days of annual leave and 15 days of sick leave per year, accrued daily.
Relocation Benefits on Appointment: These benefits are only applicable to staff who are not residents of the Greater Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area at the time of appointment.
Relocation Travel: The World Bank will bear the cost of one-way transportation of staff and immediate dependent family from the staff member's residence.
Relocation Shipment: You may choose to have the World Bank handle your shipping arrangements, or you may elect the Optional Shipment Grant.
Relocation Grant: A one-time grant is included in the first paycheck to cover the cost of relocation.
Mobility Premium: A financial benefit is provided for a fixed period of time to cover expenses associated with being an expatriate staff member, based on family size and nationality. This benefit is not available for United States citizens and U.S. permanent residents who are based in Washington DC.
Tax Allowance: U.S. staff receive an additional quarterly payment to cover the U.S., state and local income tax liabilities on their World Bank income. Expatriates and U.S. permanent residents do not incur U.S. income tax liability and are thus not eligible for this benefit.
Financial Assistance: The World Bank Group offers several financial assistance program, including a two-year interest-free settling-in loan to those who relocate upon appointment.
