1. No clear career path. Compared to management consulting firms where employees' career trajectory is clear from the very beginning, at he World Bank you have to navigate a complex office politics to even get a well deserved promotion for your work. Considering this one can safely say that there is no HR strategy for career development. This poor HR system impacts employees differently depending on their contract type. For young professional, which is an elite entry within the Bank, there is relatively better career progression plan. For short term consultants career progression is the worst and the most uncertain.
2. Perverse incentive here and there along the organizational structure probably because of the big size of the organization which further accentuates the lack of competitive force from outside as it would have been in a private sector setting. Because of this perverse incentive, hard work is not necessarily rewarded. Sometimes it is even penalized. As a result the best way to advance is to play the office politics well.
3. Chaotic management system - again because of the big size and the lack of outside competitive force which would have forced management to set clear strategic directions, for transparency in decision making and in general for an efficient business operation. The organizational structure is too complex with multiple layers of managers (too hierarchical)
4. Although the Bank has huge financial and intellectual resources, these resources are not always invested wisely most likely because of the perverse incentive system that has no place for accountability. So sometimes you may work on projects that you know do no good to the supposed beneficiaries in developing countries. This may demotivate you a lot if you are passionate about your work and come in hoping to do the right thing always.
5. For short term consultants, the payment is too low, no insurance coverage and no clear path for career progression. If you are young, energetic and impatient to grow, I don't recommend this except for a very short period of time if you want to test working in International organizations.
