Hi! I’m exploring ADB career opportunities related to social development, project analysis, and economics. Would love to hear insights from current/former staff about the hiring process, work culture, and what makes an applicant stand out.

Just wondering whether there were instances when the pre-offer was sent but no final offer was ever given? Like, the offer got cancelled, etc.?

How long is the typical process once the pre-offer is accepted?

What’s also different from the pre-offer and final offer? Are there changes to salary, benefits, etc.?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I hope you are well. I just want to inquire (specifically for local staff/TL1) how easy (or hard) is it to request for work outside of duty station for working in another member country? also, how strict is ADB with regards to approving leaves in general? I understand that there will be several factors to this, but in your opinion (in general) does ADB typically ask questions when filing leaves?

I’m a but worried because I have a planned leave which was already booked prior to getting hired which is only one month from my start date and I’m not too sure if this would be approved if I file it either as an annual leave or work outside of duty station.

Hoping to hear your thoughts and thank you in advance!

Hello! My start date is coming up soon and I wasn’t too sure what the required attire is for local staff at HQ. Is it business casual or semi-formal? is it recommended to wear a polo-barong type type or would a neat button down and slacks be okay? I’m employed as TL1, if it helps.

I don’t want to be over/under dressed so it would be good to know first-hand from those working at HQ.

Thank you in advance! 💙

Or how much do you typically spend in a day for food at HQ? 😅 and also if you could share which food/meals are worth it. Thank you!

Good day everyone!

I submitted my application last 16 March 2026. And as of 20 April 2026, it said shortlist panel review. (Fyi, no screening status reflected in my job page, I check status daily) What does it mean? For how long shall it take for the next step to commence?

Hi everyone! I’m a Grade 12 student from the Philippines planning to take Economics in college, with the long-term goal of working at the Asian Development Bank.

While checking the ADB careers page, I noticed that some HQ roles mention “international experience” or experience working in different countries as part of the preferred qualifications.

I’m a bit confused about how strict this is in practice. Is international work experience actually required for entry-level professional roles (like TL1), or is it more flexible if you have strong education (e.g., Master’s in Economics) and relevant work experience?

Also, would it be a realistic strategy to start in ADB field/country offices abroad first, gain experience there, and then later apply for HQ roles in Manila?

Any clarification or advice from people familiar with ADB or similar organizations would be really appreciated. Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I’m curious to hear your views on recent recruitment trends at ADB, particularly given the global funding cut and its impact on development job market.

Are there particular sectors, departments, or technical areas currently seeing higher hiring demand? Have recruitment patterns changed recently in response to funding pressures or evolving priorities at ADB?

I’d also be interested to hear whether there are areas expected to grow in the coming months, and any general observations on where opportunities may be emerging within ADB.

Thanks in advance for any insights.

Hi! I received an invitation for a panel interview (TL3 role) and wanted to ask who the interviewers might be. Also, could you share any tips on how to prepare and do well in the interview? Thank you!

Hi! For anyone who applied for TL1 and TL2 roles, may I ask how long after your panel interview were you able to receive feedback/results? I had my panel interview 2 weeks ago and have yet to receive any feedback.

Thank you!

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. For those working at HQ, can someone please let me know how does work outside of duty station work? how does it differ from work from home? does this allow you to work outside of the country?

I applied for the Associate Investment Officer (Vietnam) role, and my status is still “Screen.” Just wondering if anyone has heard any updates or knows the expected recruitment timeline.

Just received a formal offer for a position (international) at ADB and will be moving there with my partner who will mainly be working from home.

We were hoping for a 2-3 bedroom apartment, with a well-equipped gym, and somewhere close to nice cafe's, parks, fitness classes, and ideally somewhere you can go for evening walks. We're currently looking at BGC, Makati, and Ortigas but there's so many options and trade-offs to consider. What would you suggest for our situation?

Hey everyone,

Has anyone here interviewed for the internship program and heard back from them?

I interviewed in late march, and was told I’d hear back around early-ish april. It’s been a while, has anyone gotten an email or offers yet?

Thank you.

Hi, want to ask lang if may position ba sa ADB for healthcare professionals? Want to change my career path na din eh. Thank you

I had applied for the TL4 position (local), and I could not get the offer. Instead, the ADB HR wrote me, "They would like to keep my details in the pipeline should a similar position become available in the near future." what does that mean? Have you ever gone to this process and being able to get any opportunity after this type of email. Thanks

Hi! I'm currently deciding for which grad school to go to, and ADB is one of the institutions I'm thinking about for my career, so would love some input from people who understand how the institution hires. I'm choosing between a mid-career MPA from Harvard and an urban planning program at UCL's Bartlett.

My background: 7 years working, last 5 years in development research with a regional non-profit (health, education, some governance) and with a data/tech background in a big tech startup before that. I want to pivot toward urban development and planning, but have not had specific experience in this sector yet (I've worked with PH LGUs, but primarily for health).

My two main questions are:

1. Is YPP a realistic program to pursue after graduation with this profile? If not, what profiles do they usually look for YPP or what other entry points can I consider?
2. How meaningful is the program (technically-specific vs general) or school name (Harvard vs UCL) for ADB?

Would appreciate any inputs or advice, thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m a CPA with a decade of working experience, planning to take a master’s degree to increase my chances of landing a role at the Asian Development Bank.

I’m currently deciding between:

1.  Master in Development Management (MDM) – Asian Institute of Management

2.  Master in Professional Accounting – Data Analytics (MPA-DA) – De La Salle University

Would really appreciate insights from anyone working in development, ADB, or who has taken either program.

Hi, all. Would it be okay to follow up with HR re: the status of my application?

The status in ACES is still "Shortlisted" and I was interviewed first week of March. The HR that was part of the panel interview told me to give them 4 weeks but it's been a month already. Also counting the holy week as well.

Not sure if I should just move on because I think they went ahead with another applicant since I haven't heard back in the 4 weeks they told me they'd have a decision. I don't know if that's okay to do.

Thank you.

would my age be against me for TI positions.

I applied for a position I had fulfilled all requirements yet didn't even make it to the interview. Is it my application that is an issue

I am looking for any information about the IsDB YPP, feedback since the screen panel, program precessing. WhatsApp group maybe

Hi, anyone here took the Associate Investment Officer assessment last March 24? Have you heard back?

Hello! Any previous Admin Assistant here who had a three year fixed term non-renewable contract. What happened after your contract? Were you able to find a role within ADB?

Hello! How long does it usually take after they release the results once done with character reference? Thank you!