General overview Washington, District of Columbia (D.C.) is a place of power and influence where opportunities have arisen, and where network is key. Both public and private sectors are represented : D.C. is indeed a city where you can find not only the US federal government (the largest employer in the area) but also embassies, international organizations, think tanks, academic institutions and private companies like consulting, lawyer and financial firms, and industries (especially Aerospace & Defense industries ). « Many large corporations have headquar- ters in Washington, government jobs are plentiful, and nonprofits are ubiquitous. » « A recent look at job market competition by Indeed listed Washington as having a 1:1 ratio of job postings to unemployed persons; that is, there are about an even number of open positions as there are people seeking jobs. This means the job market in Washington is relatively uncompetitive compared to other metropolitan areas of the country 1» . Many open jobs are in law, finance, lobbying, public affairs and PR but not only. The unemployment rate is quite low (less than 6% compared to 7,9% on a national scale)2 . D.C. is a city that attracts talents from the whole world. D.C. is also a city « Where Americans are moving now »3 as net domes- tic migration increased over the past years (July 2011 Census – Washington D.C. Population: 5,609,150 i.e. +21,517 in 2010-2011). Whatever your career plan is, D.C. may be a good option. It is booming! «Washington may have the healthiest economy of any major metropolitan area in the country» says New York Times D.C. bureau chief David Leonhardt ».4 Everyone agrees with saying that D.C. is definitely a city of network. As you will read through, many networ- king events are often organized and as an intern you are stronly encouraged to participate. You can start buil- ding your network with tools such as LinkedIn and using Sciences Po’s alumni network 5. You are also welcome to participate in « Network Workshops » organized all the year long in Sciences Po Avenir.6 Living in Washington D.C. Washington D.C. is a nice place but also an expensive place to live in. Rentals are high and health insurance costs a lot of money. Based on what different people mentionned, one could say between USD 1300 to 2000 is needed monthly to live in D.C. Lots of people have decided to live outside D.C. to reduce housing expense (such as in Alexandria, Fairfax, Arlington, etc.) Public transportation such as the metro are well developed and convenient to commute every day. The IMF, one of the employers met in D.C (see below), has an interesting section on its website referred to as: « Living in Washington D.C. ». You may read it for further details. Interns usually look at International Student House to find a place to live. You may also share an appartment with roomates as interns hardly rent alone a studio in D.C. 1/ « How to land a job in Washington, D.C. in 2012 » by Heather Huhman 2/ The Washington Post quoting the US Labor Department – April 2012 3/ Forbes 4/ Link 5/ You may consult the Alumni Directory for FREE in Sciences Po Avenir 6/ See your student space or Sciences Po Avenir Website Summary International and Regional Organizations 4 World Bank 4 International Finance Corporation (IFC) – World Bank Group 8 International Monetary Fund (IMF) 11 Organization of American States (OAS) 12 Delegation of the European Union to the United States 15 Foundation & Think-Tanks 18 UN Foundation 18 Wilson Center 20 German Marshall Fund (GMF) 23 Consulting firms 24 The Scowcroft Group 24 French Organization 25 Alliance Française 25 International and Regional Organizations THE WORLD BANK The World Bank is headquartered in Washington, D.C. More than 9,000 employees work in more than 100 offices worldwide. The World Bank is a bank but not in the ordinary sense: it is a partnership to reduce poverty and support development. It comprises 2 institutions managed by 188 member countries. TheInternational Bank for Re- construction and Development (IBRD) aims at reducing poverty in middle-income and creditworthy poorer countries, while IDA focuses exclusively on the world’s poorest countries. These institutions are part of a larger body known as the World Bank Group (made of 5 agencies). « The World Bank provides low-interest loans, interest-free credits, and grants to developing countries. These sup- port a wide array of investments in such areas as education, health, public administration, infrastructure, finan- cial and private sector development, agriculture, and environmental and natural resource management. Some of its projects are cofinanced with governments, other multilateral institutions, commercial banks, export credit agencies, and private sector investors. It also provides or facilitates financing through trust fund partnerships with bilateral and multilateral donors. » « The World Bank Group welcomes applicants from all over the globe regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic background, and disability. » INTERNSHIP PROGRAM The internship program is a fantastic opportunity to gain international exposure, improve your skills in the World Bank areas of expertise and develop your own network. There are 2 sessions along the year: • Summer Internship (from June to September) | Application period : December 1 - January 31 each year • Winter Internship (from December to March) | Application period : September 1 - October 31 each year All applications must be submitted on line within the application period. If you apply after the deadline, your application will not be considered. « The Bank pays an hourly salary to all Interns and, where applicable, provides an allowance towards travel expenses. Interns are responsible for their own living accommodations. Most positions are located in Washington, DC (some positions are offered in country offices) and are a minimum of 4 weeks in duration. » Profile and eligibility • Candidates must possess an undergraduate degree and already be enrolled in a full-time graduate study program (pursuing a Master’s degree or PhD with plans to return to school in a full-time capacity). Generally, successful candidates have completed their first year of graduate studies or are already into their PhD programs. • Fields of studies: economics, finance, human development (public health, education, nutrition, population), social science (anthropology, sociology), agriculture, environment, private sector development, as well as other related fields. • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of languages such as French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Portu- guese, and Chinese are advantageous. • Computing skills • Prior relevant work experience There are no quotas. Yet, some nationalities are less represented than others. When applying on line, your application will be stored in a global database (for 6 months) where managers can access directly. You are thus strongly advised by the World Bank to contact the manager working in the department you target by email to sell and market yourself as a good candidate. You should draw his/her atten- tion to your application so that he/she can fish you out from the database. Should you still be interested in the Internship Program after 6 months, you are encouraged to re-apply. The Internship Program is a good feeder for the other programs (such as the JPA and the YPP listed below). Besides this Internship Program, you might be interested in the Legal Internship Program (LIP). Yet, recruit- ment needs are not on a yearly regular basis. THE JUNIOR PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATE (JPA) This program is designed for recent graduate students willing to gain exposure and a first exprience in the World Bank. This program enables you to enter the World Bank with a 2-year entry-level position. After the 2-year contract, you must respect a 2-year cooling period (it includes not working for the World Bank as a consultant). « However, some former JPAs may rejoin the organization later in their careers after gaining expe- rience elsewhere and becoming experts in their professional fields. » Positions may be located in any of the Bank’s offices across the world. Keep in mind this is a highly competitive program. Eligibility and profile • Be 28 years of age or younger • Hold the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree (with some relevant experience), a Master’s, or be a PhD candidate with a superior academic record. • Be fluent in English. Be fully proficient in one or more of the Bank’s working languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish is a plus. How to apply Interested candidates can apply online. Recruitment for this employment category is ongoing throughout the year. Your application will be kept for 6 months in a global database where managers can source candidates directly. You are thus strongly advised by the World Bank to contact the manager working in the department you target by email to sell and market yourself as a good candidate. You should draw his/her attention to your application so that he/she can fish you out from the database. The World Bank will contact only applicants whom hiring managers wish to interview. Should you still be interested in this employment category after 6 months, you will need to re-apply. THE YOUNG PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM (YPP) This is definitely an entry point for a career in the World Bank. The« YP Program has hired over 1,500 people who now hold positions ranging from entry-level to vice presidents and managing directors. It is a unique oppor- tunity to experience development and gain exposure to the World Bank’s operations and policies. » It « is designed for highly qualified and motivated individuals skilled in areas relevant to the World Bank’s ope- rations such as, economics, finance, education, public health, social sciences, engineering, urban planning, and natural resource management.