http://lnweb28.worldbank.org/hrs/careers.nsf/key/ypp
Young Professionals Program Thank you for your interest in the Young Professionals Program. Applications are now being accepted through September 30, 2002 for the 2003 Selection. The Young Professionals Program (YPP) is a starting point for careers in the World Bank Group. The World Bank Group consists of IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, and ICSID. (www.worldbank.org) The Program is designed for highly qualified and motivated young people skilled in areas relevant to Bank's operations such as: economics, finance, education, public health, social sciences, engineering, urban planning, and natural resource management. The Program provides the opportunity for professional development through on-the-job experience and exposure to the Bank Group's operations and policies. Each year, about 40 candidates are accepted into the Program. Since 1963, the Program has hired more than 1,000 Young Professionals from over 100 countries. Two-thirds of them still work in the organization. Young Professionals start with two rotational assignments in different departments, totaling between 12 to 18 months --experiences that provide a broad overview of the Bank Group's work. Treated as full-fledged staff members with specific responsibilities, the Young Professionals are expected to make significant contributions to the work program of their departments. Each rotational assignment normally involves at least one field trip. Incoming YPs who have not had extensive field experience are also encouraged to participate in an immersion program in a village or urban slum soon after entry into the Bank. The choice of a Young Professional's assignment is based on qualifications, institutional staffing needs and personal preferences. Young Professionals become permanent staff of the World Bank Group upon confirmation into a regular position. The Young Professionals Program Unit is responsible for recruitment, program development, and assistance to individual Young Professionals. In addition, the unit and YPs organize ad hoc Young Professional meetings, training sessions, and social opportunities. A Senior Mentoring Program has recently been initiated for Young Professionals. ELIGIBILITY Candidates must have: Master's degree (or equivalent) in economics, finance, education, public health, social sciences, engineering, urban planning, and natural resource management, or a related field. Significant relevant work experience or continued academic study at the doctoral level. Be under 32 years of age as of January 1 of the selection year (i.e., for the Year 2003 intake, applicants must be born on/or after January 1, 1971). Fluency in English. Work experience in a developing country is desirable. Speaking proficiency in Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish, is beneficial. Proficiency in other languages relevant to developing countries is also useful. The Program looks for five main characteristics when recruiting Young Professionals: Enthusiasm for, and a commitment to development work. Strong analytical skills, demonstrated by academic success and professional achievements. Flexibility and the capacity to work in different parts of the organization. Maturity, combined with tact and diplomacy. Interpersonal and communication skills for working in an international organization. SELECTION PROCESS Competition is intense, with about 10,000 applications received for each year's 30-40 positions. Most of the candidates exceed the minimum criteria. Young Professionals are on average 31 years of age, and those with Master's degrees (in economics, finance, or a technical field) typically have an average of five years work experience in areas relevant to the Bank Group's operations. Most of the candidates are familiar with issues facing developing countries because of work experience, focused study, or extended periods living and traveling in developing countries. Applicants must first submit a resume in English. Based on this information - and in some cases preliminary interviews - about 800 candidates are asked to submit detailed application packages which include academic transcripts, and, references. About 130 candidates are then selected for final interviews with senior Bank Group staff in December and January of each year. Based on these interviews, appointment offers are normally made in February, with candidates expected to join the Program in September. Those selected must meet the high standards of professional competence demanded of all Bank Group staff. There are no quotas. However, the Bank is committed to diversity and welcomes qualified women and men to apply representing a wide range of nationalities, skills as well as schools. SALARY AND BENEFITS The salary structure for Young Professionals is designed to attract high-caliber international candidates. The starting salaries are determined on the basis of an individual's educational background and work experience. Staff benefits include comprehensive health insurance, life insurance, and pension plan. New staff receive 26 working days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave a year. Expatriate staff and their dependents are entitled to a mobility premium. YP ASSIGNMENTS The World Bank Group offers Young Professionals a wide selection of career paths. One way to understand the career opportunities is to look at the Bank's lending program and organizational structure. For example, in 1997 and 1998, about 91 percent of the Bank's lending went to individual projects, such as those for roads, schools, and environmental protection. The balance helped support economic policy reforms and adjustment lending. To support this lending, approximately 4,000 professional staff of the Bank Group are deployed in the operations, finance, research, and administration complexes. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) employ another 800. Roughly 83 percent of the professional staff are based in Washington, D.C., with the remainder in the Bank's resident missions or the IFC's field offices. Young Professionals move across sectors and regions over the course of their careers. Their two rotational assignments in the Program and first regular assignment often expose them to two or more Bank complexes, as well as to the IFC or MIGA. There is no typical career path for a Young Professional. Former Young Professionals work throughout the organization in a variety of staff and managerial positions.
