employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

EF (Education First)

Engaged Employer

Beautiful campus, great colleagues -- but it feels a bit like 'The Circle' ... - Area Manager EF (Education First) Employee Review

4.0
Aug 28, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Being at EF feels like something out of The Circle (Dave Eggers' book): the company strives to create this 'all-inclusive' culture, where you can work, socialize, and spend your free time with EF people ... and doing EF things. Unlike in the book, here this isn't necessarily a bad thing - the people are generally smart, the new office building and surrounding area are seriously beautiful, and the mission of EF is an easy one to get behind... but be prepared to get on the company bus - or get out. You will feel like the company works really hard to support its employees, offer advancement (though there aren't many opportunities - so this is largely lateral) and continuing education, and keep everyone positive. It is an exceptional place to work and going into 'the real world' office culture after EF will probably be a culture shock!

Cons

If you are someone who works for the sake of work, or who doesn't share the 'company spirit' (akin to team spirit, high school spirit, cheerleader spirit) - it will be hard to advance and you probably won't be happy there. There is a sort of 'college culture' of drinking and parties, which the lack of a dress code and campus-like offices contribute to, all of which combined may make you feel like you're still an undergrad. The blatant expense of the new building (as well as the tuition fees of the neighboring Hult Business School) stands in stark contrast to the salaries of most employees, and there is pretty high turnover in most departments. The structure of the company is like a bottleneck - very few people are at the top, and there are many entry-level type positions with few advancement opportunities.

Explore other reviews about EF (Education First)

5.0
Feb 27, 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

avatar
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
Jun 2, 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.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All