World Bank Group reviews

4.1

84% would recommend to a friend

(2,931 total reviews)

Ajay Banga

83% approve of CEO

75% positive business outlook

World Bank Group has an employee rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on 2,931 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The World Bank Group employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Finanzas industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

3K reviews
2.0
Jan 12, 2018

In self-identity crisis for years

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good compensation package, many other perks including UNLP, availability of local offices with good logistics support, international travel

Cons

1. This organization has been in reorganization for years, introducing one reform after another without actually implementing them. Very often it seems that reorganization reforms are being announced just for the sake of the HQ to keep its relevance and pretend to be busy for some years, then again for some years, then again and so over and over again. One day it decided to be centralized, after while decentralized, then join Europe with Asia, then with the Middle East, then separate the regions and join differently. This is ridiculous, a complete waste of time and resources instead of focusing on its mission. 2. Segregation: locally and internationally recruited staff are treated differently in terms of promotion and compensation despite having similar qualifications, better degrees and better results. 3. Investment services are slow and expensive. IFC is a way behind its competitor, EBRD in regard to portfolio volumes and pipeline. IFC claims that its competitive advantage is global knowledge but in fact, there is nobody who cares about working with local knowledge trying to extract expertise for use worldwide for investment purposes. Many equity transactions are the loss but nobody is accountable, instead, seniors and managers can be promoted to higher ranks. There are thousands excuses and explanations why transactions fail - weak local markets, weak local sponsors but never poor investment or management decisions. How the investment division handles client relationship is also a big question mark - still a lot of arrogance and lack of professionalism and ethics. 4. Advisory services: inefficient, outdated and with focus on commercialization even fraudulent meaning advisory managers don't allow to disclose pricing to clients and put 30% overhead to cover part of their expensive time. As to the expertise, the organization is totally dependent on external experts and for their expertise literally robs clients charging twice of their rates. 5. The organization is a top-down pyramid, senior people and managers don't contribute much to practically anything including business development, client relationship, credit analysis, etc. All the work is done practically by local staff who then not even credits for their hard jobs.

2.0
Feb 15, 2017

Investment Officer

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

As an IO, you will meet smart and resourceful entrepreneurs; travel extensively; and be challenged to come up with innovative financial solutions.

Cons

Whole environment is way too bureaucratic and political where investment decisions are made primarily based on non-economic and non-financial reasons. With its heightened aversion to risk, IFC tends to predominantly support the already established, well resourced business cadre in emerging markets (or those who ply their trade there) compared to struggling local entrepreneurs with good ideas. All in all, people are way too concerned with keeping their jobs and furthering their careers at the firm than IFC's mission to alleviate poverty.

4.0
Oct 31, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

As an investment analyst you get to be part of small teams working on investment projects across the world. The team usually consists of an Investment Officer (your immediate superior), lawyer, technical specialist and environmental/social specialist. Get to travel, especially if you are in HQ

Cons

Bureaucratic organization given it is mission and organizational set-up (its part of the World Bank Group, but not as bad as the bank itself. Likely to have investment portfolio work (20-30% of your time).

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