finance intern

information technology intern

consultant

web designer

pest control technician

World Bank

The World Bank is perhaps one of the most competitive employers, in terms of the benefits offered to it's employees, and their families. Healthcare & Dental Coverage that ranges from 80% to 100% - depending on the selected plan. Paid Leave for staff, versus contractors, is almost unheard of (in addition to AWS for many staff throughout the Institution). Leave is broken in to 2 categories (Sick & Annual) which starts over each year, which means an employee can only carry over a certain amount of leave between both. That which is not used and cannot be carried over to the next year is lost (use-or-lose leave). 

As a Senior IT  Assistant at the World Bank, days are generally fast paced and very demanding. On average IT/Client Support staff respond to anywhere from 10 to 20 cases each (Remedy) - per day. Cases range from simple software installs to more complex specialized Institutional apps. Cases also include hardware installations and deployments, Windows 10 and Microsoft Office Outlook (O365) support, along with a wide variety of other responsibilities - which require a high level of flexibility, as well as the ability to multitask and prioritize effectively and efficiently. 

Management and Leadership styles and qualities also vary throughout the Institution. I've had at least one exceptional manager during my tenure in the Institution - who was unafraid to go against the establishment on those things he knew were morally right and just - regardless of ridicule and repercussions, from peers and senior management. This particular manager was not concerned with being anyone's favorite, but more so doing what was right and giving his staff a chance at succeeding. This manager also provided a sensible game plan, and followed up regularly with the team - to ensure everyone was one target for potential success. This was some time ago, when the Institution was very different. I've also had managers who were fair, as well as those who could talk for hours, for matters that required a simple yes or no... I know and understand being a manager is not an easy task, or else everyone would be managers, and I also understand a lot of what goes into being a manager is often unseen by the employees, themselves; however, I firmly believe it is the responsibility of a leader (not necessarily a manager) to provide a clear and concise road-map for future success - to his or her team.

The World Bank, in and of itself, is highly diverse environment - with a lot of moving parts. As with many organization (domestic and international) the World Bank is a highly bureaucratic environment, in which it can be very difficult - if not impossible - to progress. I can remember a time when hard work and going above and beyond would almost certainly guarantee some type of recognition "Spot Awards" and/or promotion; however, the Institution has changed drastically and is comprised primarily of cults and cliques, which if you're not apart of - you will NOT advance...

A typical day at work included detailed discussions with the Task manager on the project development and review of the progress made by the client on the projects.  Detailed discussions on major implementation financial, stakeholders, personnel, country's political policy hurdles, interpersonal problems.  Contribute as core team member to the preparation and implementation of selected operations, assuring quality in all stages of the project cycle;  Serve as the focal point for liaison with key counterparts and other partners for colleagues working with the country program; Identify opportunities for addressing agricultural and / or Rural development issues of the country as part of the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework, country policy dialogue, sector investment operations, budget support operations, and other multi-sectoral projects; Keep myself abreast of relevant developments for country’s agri-food sector and effectively communicate with the country team and grassroot level officials to understand the problem in the implementation of the projects;  Remain current with relevant major pieces of analytical work in the profession. Participate in strategic analytical work of the country in question;  I worked and based on the collected information I used to develop strong client relations and partnership, including with the International and local Funding agencies helping the project on operational matters and policy dialogue; Strive to maintain a high level and quality of engagement and dialogue with key stakeholders, including government, civil society, private sector and research/academic community on strategic and policy issues concerning the agriculture and rural development sector of the countries where I am involved as a consultant of the world Bank, and provide feedback to the  Task Team leader in the implementation of the projects.

I usually work 9 hours a day, but in many occasions I have to work 10-12 hours in order to meet deadlines.It's very fast-paced, you gotta learn things quickly and be accountable for your own mistakes. I had the opportunity to work in various regions across the Bank and have met wonderful people, who share knowledge, help you grow professionally, share their experiences, give you great advice. I have learned to be more patient and tolerant. The workplace culture is fair. However, I have met few people who tend to be rude, demanding, needy and do not give credit to whom deserves it. But in general, colleagues treat your with respect, integrity, honesty. The hardest part of the job is maintaining a healthy work-life balance and leaving work on time. For some reason, some Task Team Leaders are not trained or well prepared to solve operational problems themselves. They expect the project assistant to do everything for them, even though, sometimes it would be faster for them to take care of the issue. Managerial skills vary from unit to unit across the Bank. There are many managers who really know how to do their job, there are others who have no clue how to manage their staff. Some managers are more encouraging than others and help their staff to grow professionally by seeking opportunities outside their practice or in different teams.  Some managers and executive assistants can be micro-managers at times.The most enjoyable part of the job is the friends you make, the multi-cultural environment you are part of and being able to participate in various events/training all year round. 
Consultants have no benefits whatsoever. I wished the Bank will offer same/partial benefits to STCs, who at the end, are the ones doing the hard work in the field.

• Configured SAP GRC Access Control 5.3 suite - Risk Analysis and Remediation (RAR), Super User Privilege Management (SPM), Enterprise Role Management (ERM), Compliant User Provisioning (CUP).
• Created and configured JCo adapters and integrated RAR, SUPM, CUP and ERM.
• Worked with BPA and Support Personnel in defining rules for custom transactions.
• Used Rule Architect to make the necessary action and/or permission changes to rules.
• Re-designed roles with SOD issues and completed role cleanup process.
• Used Informer to generate various Management and Detailed reports.
• Created/Maintained Reason Codes for Fire Fighter (GRC) user IDs.
• Super user access was eliminated by creating Firefighter IDs and configured firefighter.
• Configured Role Expert/ERM based on existing role design process.
• Configured Alert Notification to send automatic emails for Conflicting or critical actions.
• Created documentation and trained client personnel on maintaining/using GRC tool effectively.
• Extracted Mitigation controls from SOX control matrix and upload to RAR
• Validated all the rules by running reports and reviewing the roles and users being reported to make sure rule adjustments are valid for risk discovery.
• Set up background jobs for synchronizing user/role/profile changes to RAR.
• Configured Alert Notification to send automatic emails for Conflicting or critical actions.
• Provided management various detailed reports by using Compliant User Provisioning Informer.
• Provided documentation and trained the client personnel on maintaining and using GRC tool effectively.

High turnover of people. Your seat/position is not guaranteed which gives a lot of bad ambience and internal competition to stay in the job and get promoted (very little collaboration between specialists and units, which is sad for the overall impact of projects). This ends up with toxic relationships and all kids of bad practices that should be controlled at the internal quality level, but sometimes fall between the cracks. There are instruments in place for complaining but if you do, expect retaliations. The overall mission and work of the World Bank is great and was attracted to the position to make a contribution to such a  beautiful cause, only to discover that this institution is a bit derailed and it attracts all kind of unqualified people (but good at promoting themselves and climbing the ladder) and even people with psychiatric issues. Consultants are exploited and underpaid and Staff and middle managers create a very difficult environment to thrive. That being said, the WB has also some worth mentioning top qualified managers (not at the PM level though) and some top notch specialists  with whom is a privilege to work. If you are considering a career in the WB make sure to inquiry about the team and the manager you will be working with and ask for references. 

8:00-8:30
          1. Review my to-do list from yesterday
          2. Re-prioritize my list for today
          The list has
                • Must do today
                • Should do today
                • I hope I have time for this
          3. Sort through my e-mail
                • Delete worthless messages
                • Answer emails
                • Sort out those that require more time or extra work to answer
                        – move them to my to-do list.

8:30-10:30
        Since this is my most productive time of day I try to tackle my most demanding project.
        This is when I would write important letters, work on a report for the school board, update
        or refine a data sheet. 

11:00
        Great time for meetings.  This is a nice to take a break from desk work and it has a
        definite end time (lunch)

12:00
        Lunch (Away from my desk, because I need to refresh and rejuvenate)

1:00
        Return phone calls, respond to emails, work on to-do list

2:30-4:00
        Do data entry, send or pay bills, prepare mailings, things that are more routine and
        don’t require as much energy.  This is a good time to get routine jobs complete.

4:00-5:00
        Burst of final effort to complete my to-do list. Sort out things that can be moved
        to tomorrow’s list.  This time of day is my best ‘sorting’ time – complete short,
        easy projects, request information from others for my projects, clean off my desk, etc.

In between all of this I answer the phone and deal with the immediate needs of customers and co-workers.  As the face of the business, it is important that I handle interruptions to my schedule with graciousness and unruffled efficiency.

During my tenure at the World Bank, I engaged in technical tasks , while within my realm of expertise, often fell short of the challenges I sought to tackle with my qualifications. Working amidst stringent deadlines amidst a workplace culture lacking effective managerial leadership sharpened my ability to deliver results under pressure.

One of the most demanding aspects of my role involved undertaking non-technical duties such as menial cable plugging and other labor-intensive tasks. Although these responsibilities may have been necessary, they often felt disconnected from the full extent of my capabilities, leaving me yearning for more intellectually stimulating challenges.

However, amidst these challenges, I found solace and fulfillment in the opportunity to leverage cutting-edge technology. The chance to immerse myself in the latest advancements within my field was undeniably rewarding and provided moments of genuine satisfaction amid the daily grind.

Ultimately, my time at the World Bank was characterized by a mix of frustration stemming from underutilization of my skills and fulfillment derived from working with innovative technology. Despite the hurdles faced, I emerged with a heightened resilience and a deeper understanding of my professional aspirations.

A typical day at the World Bank Group could be anything but typical.  Working in the Corporate Secretariat, there was involvement in not only the administrative and governance aspect of the organization, but an opportunity to interact with other organizations outside The World Bank Group and other countries. 

Staffing included those from various countries and cultures, giving one the opportunity to learn about and get to know cultures without necessarily traveling.  I worked with a wonderful group of international co-workers from Korea, the Philippines, India, different parts of Africa, Europe and South America, as well as those who were nationals.  

It would be difficult to say what the hardest part of the job was because a typical day could change, depending on what may be going on in the world, but during annual meetings, especially in D.C., getting into work could be difficult due to the shut down of streets, and generally protesting at this time.  

What I found most enjoyable was the friends made, the learning, the cooperation with one another within my unit, and the department/organizations desire to create a work/life balance for its employees.

If you have Compassion for the Poor and you think you can make a difference in the World, no matter in what field you work, as well as you enjoy working among other cultures, then the World Bank is the place for you.
The new CIO has definitely made a big difference and brought the Bank to the upfront in Technology, which over the last several years, has been consistently changing at a fast pace.
Managers, like everywhere else, can be excellent, mediocre and poor, but regardless of that, if you are a good worker and love your job, the word will get around and you will always make your manager look good.  People will bring you presents from other parts of the world out of the goodness of their own hearts.
Working in a Team where people are proactive, with very good ideas, is one of the most enjoyable parts of the job along with seeing your colleagues with whom you have made good friends over the years.
Keep a careful balance between work and your family life.
Do not neglect your health and join the gym.  It will make a difference and boost your stamina to continue the rest of the day.

I perform a wide range of high quality data analysis, while ensuring accuracy of data provided to clients. I Collect, compile and analyze data and consolidate reports from various sources (e.g, vendor reports, SAP, people Soft, and other Bank applications), I prepare monthly and quarterly reports presentations with analytical outputs (e.g., through graphing functions/ pivot tables in Excel, or using such in PowerPoint slides) and ensure that data are presented in a reader friendly way. I apply calculations for increases and discounts to master rate tables and monitor compliance with contractual terms. I analyze vendor reported performance and verify compliance against service level agreements and sourcing office’s data while ensuring integrity of sourcing data on the delivery of vendor services. I track, monitor, manage, analyze and report information to respond to clients and team members on rules, policies, guidelines and procedures. 

I am proficient in Excel, Access, Power Point, SAP, PeopleSoft, HR query, LMS, Share point, and other information systems. I have strong analytical and conceptual skills and I can maintain a large database with my excellent information technology skills.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
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Pest control technician 1 salary reported	$23.14 per hour

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