Pros
- As staff, we get excellent salaries, benefits packages and pension - The work, albeit challenging, is very interesting, rewarding and stimulating - You do truly get to work with the top global experts in their respective fields, and with people who genuinely care about what they do
Cons
Before becoming staff, I was a consultant and then an Extended Term Consultant for several years. Consultants (STCs) are the true shadow workforce of the World Bank, and are treated completely differently - they get paid significantly less, do not get any insurance coverage, benefits, sick leave or other 'perks' that most people consider to be basic hallmarks of a decent job. The STC gig can be fun if the flexible setup works for you, but it's definitely a young man's game, and it's extremely difficult to transition from an STC to a full-time staff.