Types of Employment

The IMF has two major categories of employment: staff and contractual. Each category of employment offers different levels of benefits.

IMF staff are typically hired on a three-year fixed-term appointment to test their suitability for career employment. If a fixed-term staff member meets the performance requirements, demonstrates potential for a career at the IMF, and meets the IMF’s staffing requirements, his/her appointment may be converted from fixed-term to an open-ended regular appointment at the end of the fixed-term appointment period.

Limited-term staff appointments are used for positions for which the Fund does not need to build expertise or for positions that are likely to change in the future. They are for a period of up to three years, but may be extended once, to a cumulative period of five years.

Contractual appointees are hired for one day up to two years and may be extended up to a maximum period of four years. This category is used for job functions needed for only a relatively short period and for finite projects requiring specialized skills not otherwise available on staff.

In certain areas, the Fund sources expertise externally, either as freelance consultants or from vendors. These individuals are not considered Fund employees.

Training and Development

The IMF offers a wide range of internal training courses, seminars and development programs to meet the unique needs of its staff.

The IMF Institute, in collaboration with other departments, offers in-house seminars and short courses on topics of particular relevance to Fund economists. In addition, seminars and workshops are offered by the IMF's Research Department, as well as other departments, on topics that advance the Fund's research priorities.

Beyond training in economics and related subjects, the IMF continues to enhance curricula to support the professional development of all staff: from an orientation and mentoring program that help staff integrate into the Fund, to classroom and online courses that enhance interpersonal, written communications, technology, management and leadership skills. A language training program is also provided to help staff acquire, enhance, or maintain language skills necessary for performing work assignments on specific countries.

The IMF has developed career guides that enable economists and other professionals to chart their career at the Fund. These guides offer staff insight and information on possible paths for career growth, serve as tools for managers to develop their staff, and provide benchmarks for departments to use in assessing staff across their divisions.

To support the work of their employees, the IMF and World Bank Group share a network of libraries and resource centers. These libraries are located in Washington, D.C. and extend their services to resident missions and country offices.

The IMF also supports continuing education through accredited academic institutions so that staff may enhance their professional qualifications. Staff may also apply for study leave to complete graduate studies or work on a project that advances the IMF's research agenda.

Mobility Assignments

The IMF has a number of programs to support mobility within the organization or in a relevant job with a different organization. Mobility is seen as an important factor for career growth and advancement in the Fund. Staff are encouraged to seek work experiences that broaden their professional experience, offer further challenges, and increase their versatility and effectiveness to the organization, once they have acquired expertise in their area of work. In addition to a more versatile and readily deployable staff, mobility enhances the organization’s knowledge-sharing capabilities and succession planning strategies.

To provide staff with information on positions internally available, the IMF maintains JobLink, a central website on current vacancies, including temporary assignments. In addition to the range of opportunities available at headquarters, economists are encouraged to consider taking up an assignment as an IMF resident representative and/or to pursue external assignments to broaden their experience in public or private sector organizations. For information on the benefits provided to resident representatives, please see the section on "transfer to another country" in Expatriate Benefits.

Flexible Work Arrangements

The IMF offers its staff a number of flexible work arrangements, including part-time, job sharing, telework, alternative starting times, and compressed work schedules. We believe that flexible work arrangements benefit both the individual and the Fund. Our employees benefit by being able to maintain a reasonable balance between their work and personal life, which in turn builds motivation and engagement.

Diversity and Inclusion

While recruiting only the most able and technically competent candidates, the International Monetary Fund strives for a balance in gender and nationality representation among its staff. We do not set country or gender quotas, but try to ensure that our membership is reflected in the composition of our staff. In this way, we can more effectively understand and meet the different needs of our member countries and also encourage a greater cross-fertilization of ideas within the organization. Read our Statement on Diversity.

All departments in the IMF are accountable for their diversity management. Their diversity action plans and the current nationality and gender composition of their staff are available on an internal website for all staff to see.

The IMF employs a Diversity Advisor, who advises and reports to the Director of Human Resources. The Diversity Advisor has ready access to members of the Fund management team, including the Managing Director, either through the Diversity Council or directly if warranted. Her task is to monitor progress and to develop programs that will raise the consciousness of the staff in matters of diversity. As employees of an international organization, we in the IMF want to set an example through these initiatives. We want all staff to feel at ease and to have the opportunity to succeed in the IMF's work environment.

Ethics and Integrity

Just as the International Monetary Fund encourages transparency and good governance as the bedrock of well-functioning governments, so must ethics and integrity serve as the foundation of our own institutional culture. Everyone who works for the Fund must observe the highest standards of professional ethics. Each employee is responsible for contributing to the good governance and reputation of the Fund by upholding the institution's core values of probity, integrity and independence.

For more information on the codes of ethical conduct and financial disclosure rules that IMF staff and Executive Directors must observe, as well as the Ethics Officer's Annual Report, see IMF Staff Ethics, Financial Disclosure and Resolution of Staff Disputes.