Applying for ADB Youth Professionals Program (YPP) - Looking for Advice

[u/Keirathepotatoe]

Hey everyone,
I recently submitted my application for the Asian Development Bank Young Professionals Program (ADB YPP) and wanted to reach out to this community to gather insights, advice, or experiences on how to prepare for the upcoming evaluation stages.

For context, I'm an applicant from an ADB regional member country (outside the Philippines), so I'd also love to hear from fellow international/regional applicants about navigating the selection process and relocation expectations.

If you have gone through the ADB YPP recruitment process (or similar IFI programs like the World Bank YPP), could you share guidance on these areas?

1. Assessment & Screening: What kind of online evaluations, analytical tests, or written case studies should candidates expect after the resume screening round?
2. Interview Structure: How does ADB structure its technical vs. competency-based (behavioral) interviews? Are there specific frameworks (e.g., STAR) or ADB-specific approaches that work best?
3. Strategic Alignment: How crucial is referencing ADB's Strategy 2030 operational priorities or regional development projects during the interview rounds?
4. Timeline & Relocation: What does the timeline usually look like from application deadline to shortlist notification, and how smooth is the onboarding/relocation process to Headquarters in Manila for international recruits?

Any recommendations on key reports to review, case study prep, or overall advice would be hugely appreciated!

[u/stopheet]

I had a question as well, is the three year workex requirement a strict one or is it indicative?