World Bank YPP application guide by former World Bank YPs

YPP Reference Letters Mini Course

How to create the strongest YPP reference letters

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What you will learn:

12 questions that the Ace the YPP reference letter module answers

1. How should your reference letters balance depth with breadth?

2. How should the reference letters complement and not repeat what is already on your CV?

3. What should your reference demonstrate in their letters?

4. What are the qualities that the World Bank is looking for?

5. How important is it to get someone working at the World Bank to be one of your letter writers?

6. Who should write your reference letters? How should your references complement each other?

7. Who should not write your letters?

8. Should you ask your supervisor if you don’t have a good relationship with them?

9. Who did successful World Bank YPP applicants have for their references?

10. Should you ask someone even if they taught/supervised you several years ago?

11. How should you prepare your references?

12. What information should you give your references so they can write the strongest letter for you?

This mini course includes access to the private unlisted Facebook and Linkedin groups for enrollees only.

This mini course is delivered as an audio recording compiling reference letter advice from several former World Bank YPs. Due to privacy reasons and the need to obtain permission from the reference letter writer, this course does *not* include a sample reference letter.

Course curriculum

1

Ace the YPP- World Bank Young Professionals Program
- Reference Letters

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About this course

This course was created due to overwhelming demand for career coaching. The advice is geared towards preparing for the YPP selection process but can be used for other development jobs.

This course is geared towards the World Bank YPP and does not cover the IFC or MIGA YPP.

How long will I have access to this course after purchasing it?

60 days

Apart from the online materials, do you provide a support community?

Yes, enrolled students are invited to join a hidden closed Facebook group and LinkedIn group. The groups are only for enrolled students and will not include any mentors. The community aims to enable you to practice the techniques with other serious YPP applicants.

Who are the people providing advice and why are their names not mentioned?

They are all former YPs from different cohorts, global practices, and countries of origins. Over a dozen former YPs from different academic and professional backgrounds gave advice and they have asked to be kept anonymous.

Do you offer personalized advice for my situation? Will you answer individual questions?

We are very sorry that due to work commitments, we cannot offer personalized advice tailored to your situation. This course provides advice to a broad range of applicants- economists, non-economists, reapplicants, new applicants, working professionals without PhDs, etc. We will not be able to answer any questions unless it is a technical question on using the website. [email protected]

Can you review my essay, CV or practice a mock interview with me?

Unfortunately, due to our work commitments, we cannot review your materials or practice interviews with you. Apologies, we do not plan to offer this as a paid service in the future. This course aims to provide comprehensive guidance throughout the full process.

Can we contact the former YPs for follow up questions?

Unfortunately, they have asked to be kept anonymous so we will not be able to put you in touch. Please don't ask.

Set Yourself Apart

Get all the tools you need to write your best application

Be the Next YP

Read the Official WBG YPP Webpage

Excerpt: Do you have a passion for international development/finance? Do you have skills in economics, finance and political risk insurance in emerging markets, education, health, social sciences, infrastructure development, engineering, urban planning, agriculture, natural resource management or other areas relevant to public/private sector development? The WBG YPP is a two-year leadership development program at the start of a five-year employment contract with the World Bank, IFC or MIGA. YPs must have a graduate degree and been born on or after October 1, 1989.

YPP Mentor (this site) is an unofficial website that does not represent the views of the World Bank Group. The former Young Professionals are speaking only of their own personal experiences. They are not representing the World Bank Group.

Please read the Official WBG YPP FAQs page before emailing us. We apologize that we do not have the capacity to respond to questions that can be answered by reading the official site.