Welcome to the second part of our special series of interviews with professionals who have applied for the prestigious World Bank Young Professionals Program! To preserve her confidentiality due to contract restrictions, our interviewee has chosen to use the codename “Laura.”

In this interview, Laura, who was raised in a fragile and conflict-affected country, shares her experiences and insights on how OpenIGO has helped in her career journey. She provides valuable advice from her own perspective to those seeking an international career.

In pursuit of its mission, the OpenIGO network has prepared a comprehensive eBook and support and guidance services with the aim of highly increasing your chances of success in this competitive process.

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Laura is a young and bright professional in the field of Development Economics, with a specific focus on policy analysis in the Middle East. Join us as we explore her valuable insights and experiences.

1. Can you tell us about your background and experience?

Sure! I am the daughter of Lebanese parents. Our country is constantly affected by violence and civil war, which escalated in 2011. When I was 13 years old, we moved to France to try to live there. As a daughter of refugees myself, I experienced all the difficult conditions imaginable, such as discrimination, poverty, and the challenge of learning English and French. However, my family managed to start a small business and invest all they could in my education. This enabled me to complete my studies and apply for a PhD in economics at the Université Montpellier. I am eternally grateful to them because they knew the power of education in changing lives.

So, my background is in development economics and policy analysis. This combined with my field experience working for international organizations in the MENA region, has helped me build expertise in various areas. Specifically, I have focused on education analysis and policy making. My work has centered on supporting refugee and host communities in fragile states, where I have gained invaluable field experience.

2. How did you know about the World Bank YPP selection process?

During a congress at my university five years ago, we had a cohort of PhD students from Eastern Europe. One of them was also pursuing a PhD in economics and spoke about his dream job of working at an international organization such as the World Bank or IMF. He talked about the opportunities as consultants, the Bank internship program, and the Young Professionals Program, which piqued my interest.

Since that day, I have been committed to applying to the World Bank YPP in the near future. So, I have been constantly checking the World Bank website and reading their flagship publications related to my area of expertise.

3. Why did you apply for the World Bank?

One of my experiences was volunteering with the United Nations in Africa, where I worked with a team to provide displaced persons with food, health products, and skills training. Through this, I witnessed the positive impact of intergovernmental organizations in improving the well-being of the most vulnerable people.

In this sense, I believe that such a prestigious organization, as the World Bank, is not only in alignment with my background in economics and policy design but also with my personal goal of improving people’s lives and combating poverty.

4. What were the main challenges of applying for the World Bank YPP and how did you find OpenIGO’s services?

“With thousands of publications, reports, and project frameworks, it was difficult to figure out what to read and how to read it.”

As someone who recently went through the application process for the World Bank Young Professionals Program, I can attest to the challenges that it presents. One of the biggest difficulties that I faced was trying to navigate through the overwhelming amount of information available on the World Bank website. With thousands of publications, reports, and project frameworks, it was difficult to figure out what to read and how to read it.

Thankfully, I found a helpful resource in the WBG YPP guide provided by OpenIGO. It provided an easy-to-follow approach to understanding the World Bank’s main publications, the competencies that they sought, and how to effectively convey my essay to align with the Bank’s mission and objectives. Additionally, being able to read samples of CVs and essays from real candidates was invaluable. It allowed me to find my own path when writing my own documents and gave me a better sense of what the Bank was really looking for in its applicants.

Overall, the WBG YPP guide from OpenIGO was an essential tool in my application process, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is considering applying to the World Bank or any other international organization. It can be overwhelming to navigate the application process on your own, but with the right resources and guidance, it is possible to make a strong application and stand out as a potential candidate for the program.

Interested in the World Bank YPP Essential Guide? Download a free sample to get a taste of its quality!

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5. How far did you get in the World Bank YPP selection process?

“I have been selected for ‘further employment consideration’. This wouldn’t have been possible if I had chosen to study on my own.”

I went through all of their rounds, including the digital interview and assessment center. According to the last email they sent me, I have been selected for ‘further employment consideration’. Additionally, they said that they will circulate my application documents to one of their Global Practices. So, I’m very hopeful that I will receive an offer soon! 

Undoubtedly, this wouldn’t have been possible if I had chosen to study on my own without any supporting materials and feedback.

6. What recommendations do you have for someone who is applying for the 2024-2025 World Bank YPP?

Despite the difficulties of the application process, I believe that the YPP program is worth the effort and dedication required to apply. The program offers a unique opportunity to work with a prestigious organization like the World Bank and make a meaningful impact in the lives of people around the world. 

Moreover, even if you are not selected, you will gain valuable experience and become better prepared for other opportunities, including a position as a consultant at the Bank. So, it’s a win-win situation.

Do you want to become the next World Bank’s Young Professional? We can help you as we did with Laura!

OpenIGO is an extensive network composed of former young professionals, professors and researchers from the best universities in the world, international civil servants and Human Resources specialists.

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