Pros
* Dedicated and highly intelligent coworkers who believe in development work. * Unrivaled exposure to the inner workings of development economics. Ability to travel to places you would never otherwise have the chance to. * Excellent benefits and perks for the workforce. * Decent pay for a bureaucratic role. On par with or just a bit below the private sector in Washington, DC.
Cons
* Somewhat to very bureaucratic. * Sometimes very difficult to know how the work you are doing relates to overall projects (or whether it is making a difference at all). * Some of the work seems like it is being done only because that is the way the Bank has done it in the past. * Takes advantage of "consultants" by hiring them without accounting for hidden costs of self-employment. * Career track is best done by working in country for a good chunk of time (~10 years) then returning to headquarters. Limited opportunities for advancement strictly within the Washington office. * Difficult to get full time staff appointments if you are American or Indian.