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EF (Education First)

Engaged employer

EF take without giving anything in return - Anonymous employee EF (Education First) Employee Review

1.0
8 Jan 2013
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great, fun-loving, enthusiastic people to work with. The best office and school locations. Good social life. If you're young, single and looking to work in another country then you can be exposed to the full depth of your role at EF and stand to gain a lot of great work experience. I'm still very good friends with many people I worked with at EF.

Cons

Salary is literally about half of what you could achieve elsewhere. Middle management, team leaders, etc., are hired without any management experience (usually because they're Swedish) - and it shows. (In over 3 years I never saw anyone promoted from within EF.) Work is chaotic and very stressful. Deadlines are apparently set arbitrarily and without any discussion with the staff who will actually do the work, and highly unreasonable demands are thus placed on the staff who are expected to regularly work 14-hour+ days. The company charges its students a fortune but pays out remarkably little in salary, though they're happy to pay for lots of nights out and expensive office locations - it's all about looking good without rewarding the overworked staff.

Explore other reviews about EF (Education First)

5.0
27 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Opportunity for quick advancement - Trainings for new managers - Culture of innovation and entrepreneurship - Global connections; opportunities to travel - Fast-paced work environment - Friendly, supportive teams

Cons

- Low pay (industry) - Burnout / overworked during peak seasons

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EF (Education First) Response
3mo
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad to hear you’ve found opportunities for early career development, leadership training, and global connection during your time at EF. Creating a vibrant culture where colleagues can learn from one another and grow quickly is something we care deeply about. We also appreciate your perspective on compensation and workload during busy seasons. Supporting our colleagues’ limitless potential while helping them make a real impact through their work is important to us, and feedback like yours helps us continue to reflect on how we support our teams.
4.0
2 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You get to choose your tour and recruit the students you want to bring. The paid chaperone ratio is 6:1, so it is very manageable. The tours are great and the local experts are wonderful.

Cons

Company support is variable. There is high turnover and new consultants are very sales motivated and don't always get the nuances of your school or community group. I have had some WONDERFUL concusltants, but they have always been promoted before I get to work with them again.

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