World Bank Group - Young Professionals Program internship

The Young Professionals Program (YPP) is a starting point for an exciting career in the World Bank.

It is a unique opportunity for younger talent who have both a passion for international development--be it for working in Operations or in some Corporate areas--and the leadership potential to grow in fascinating top technical and managerial roles in the World Bank Group. 

The Program is designed for highly qualified and motivated individuals skilled in areas relevant to the WBG technical/operations such as economics, finance, education, public health, social sciences, engineering, urban planning, agriculture, natural resources and others; as well as to WBG corporate areas such as communications, information technology, human resources and corporate finance. To be competitive for this highly selective program, candidates need to demonstrate a commitment to development, proven academic success, professional achievement, and leadership capability.


We value diversity in our workplace, and encourage qualified men and women with diverse professional, academic, and cultural backgrounds to apply. Since its inception, the YP program has hired over 1,700 people who hold or have held positions ranging from entry-level to vice presidents and managing directors. It is a unique opportunity to experience development and gain exposure to the World Bank’s operations and policies.

Do you qualify for the program?

Applicant must be:

• A citizen of a member country of the World Bank
• 32 years of age or younger (born on or after October 1, 1983)
• PhD or Master’s degree and 3+ years of relevant work experience
• Specialization in a field relevant to WBG operations
• Fluency in English and proficiency in another WBG working language is desirable
• Specialization in a field relevant to the WBG Technical/Operations such as economics, finance, education, public health, social sciences, engineering, urban planning, agriculture, natural resources, and others. Note: No positions will be offered in WBG Corporate areas in the 2016 YPP Selection Process.
•  Must have all the professional and academic information at hand including key dates, an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV), Education Certificates/Transcripts, PhD Dissertation/Master’s Thesis topics (short summary), if applicable, and the Application Essay ready to be uploaded. 

Additional Qualifications

To be competitive for the limited number of positions, a combination of the following credentials is highly desirable:

• Display a commitment and passion for international development
• Possess outstanding academic credentials
• Exhibit excellent client engagement and team leadership skills
• Have international development country experience
• Be motivated to relocate and undertake country assignments (operational stream) 

To apply

 “Reaching the goals of ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity—and ensuring that future generations will share in broader prosperity—is a realistic objective. Citizens around the world are already driving change in their communities and developing innovative ideas to address some of the toughest challenges their countries face. The institutions of the World Bank Group are committed to using their financial instruments, data, knowledge, and solutions to highlight innovations and catalyze this action to end poverty. It will take a global movement to end poverty, and in supporting and working alongside stakeholders around the world, the Bank can fully realize the twin goals.” (Extract from the 2014 WBG Annual Report)

Describe in fewer than 1,000 words your own contribution to these goals, if you were to work for the World Bank Group.

Register on the World Bank site HERE

 

3 secrets to success from top celebrities + a bonus

I've always been inspired by the story of David and Goliath. There's something about a teenage shepherd who has zero military training and experience, killing a giant warrior with nothing but a sling and a stone that just blows my mind. 

I'm sure we can all agree that everyone longs for some sort of major success, and yet in our increasingly competitive world, success is harder than ever to achieve. The good news is: it may be hard, but it's certainly not impossible. A wise man once said, "even the word 'impossible' itself says 'I'm possible.' " It's all about perspective.

 So, how can you achieve your dreams starting today, right now? Well, here are a few great tips from some of the world's biggest stars.

 1. According to the stunning Halle Berry, "The first step is clearly defining what it is you're after, because without knowing that you'll never get it."  That being said, you need to set clear goals. 

A good goal must be SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. An example of a bad goal is, "I want to start a million dollar business soon."  For starters, that's not specific, measurable or time-bound.

You can't achieve anything if you don't know what exactly it is that you want. A good goal would look something like this, "I need to write a business plan for a restaurant business by the 30th of this month." 

2. Our second success tip is from Will Smith, who says, "If you want something, go get it. Period." Let go of the excuses, get rid of the procrastination and get started on your dream, TODAY. 

You don't need to be super rich or highly qualified to start. Make use of whatever skill, talent or resource you have right now. Don't wait until you're 'perfect' or you'll be waiting forever. It's better to do something imperfectly now than to do nothing flawlessly.

 3. In Bill Gates' words, "It's fine to celebrate success, but it's more important to heed the lessons of a failure." Simply put, if things don't go your way at first, hang in there, learn the lesson and try again. 

Don't quit at the first sign of difficulty or opposition. Sometimes, a set back can be a set-up for a huge come-back tomorrow. 

Bonus: Our bonus tip is from super-talented Taylor Swift who says, " If you're lucky enough to be different, don't ever change." 

Find out what makes you, your dreams and ideas unique and build on that. Be authentic and refuse to be a copy of someone or something else. After all, copies are always worth much less than the original.

In closing, always remember, "In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can."

Super-talented, qualified but unemployed?!

Back in college or varsity, you may have been a top achiever - driven, ambitious, relentless and loved by fellow students and professors alike. You may have won numerous Awards for your academic prowess, had stars in your eyes and a spring in your step at graduation.

Your  expectations for the future were sky-high, your confidence levels soaring and your smiles unending.

But, a lot of time has passed since then and you're still unemployed and scouring the Classifieds for any job-openings. Your brilliant smiles have been replaced by scowls and your springy step has turned into a slow shuffle.

If you can relate to this, you're one of millions of talented graduates who have found themselves stranded after the completion of their tertiary journey.

Let's look at a few facts for a minute:

1. In today's economy, being qualified doesn't guarantee a job

Growing up we were told that getting a tertiary qualification gave us an automatic pass to a glamorous job - no hassles, no long wait, no stress. But that's not true. The more graduates there are, the more competition there is for the few available positions in the job market. There are thousands of graduates out there who want the very same piece of pie you are eyeing.

So, what are you to do?

Be unique and find innovative ways of standing out from the rest. Instead of simply emailing or sending your CVs / resumes and application letters via post, go a step further and  find opportunities to network with Business Executives.

Attend business workshops and seminars and introduce yourself to company execs. This gives them a chance to know you better, hear your ideas and relate to you as a potential employee. Take yourself seriously. You'll only be treated like a professional if you act, think and speak like one.

2. Being talented isn't enough either

Ever heard the saying, "There are a lot of poor geniuses out there?"  It's not necessarily the people with the best ideas that become successful, but those that know what to do with great ideas. Your ideas and creativity are your most prized assets. Find out how you can make them work for you.

Resist the temptation of selling your ideas for a $10 lunch that will be gone in 5 minutes. A lot of millionaires have made their fortunes by ripping off young, talented graduates who are desperate to impress. So, protect your intellectual property and insist on a formal contract before giving any major business strategies away.

3.  Be prepared to start small

You may not get that Marketing or Bank Manager job right away. Be ready and willing to roll up your sleeves and start from the bottom. You may need to start off as an intern, volunteer or part-time employee and work your way up the corporate ladder. Keep focused and hang in there. Your determination will pay off in good time.

To all the super-talented, qualified but unemployed graduates out there, keep on dreaming, working and believing. The best in life awaits you!

Dedicated to the 2014 class, National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe

"Think in other terms"