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EF (Education First)

Engaged Employer

The most toxic work environment. STAY AWAY! - Anonymous employee EF (Education First) Employee Review

1.0
Apr 1, 2020
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Nice office in central ZH Good office parties Occasional travel

Cons

No career growth No HR department Toxic environment Politics rule Incompetent management No transparency No vision Promotions are never ever merit based No leadership No professional development No specialists, teams are mostly comprised of inexperienced interns No accountability Outdated tools Top management have held the positions since 20+ years, that means there is never a strategy, there are no decisions, just a ton of empty talks Competent people are not valued Lots of secrecy Unhealthy vibe, always afraid to speak up or else will lose the job Extremely high turnover Really, do yourself a favor and stay away from this horrid family-owned business.

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EF (Education First) Response
6y
Hello and thank you for your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that EF has not lived up your and our expectations. Central locations and a strong company culture is something we are very proud of and I'm happy to hear you appreciated this. We have functions and teams specifically dedicated to recruitment and professional development in most of our offices with the objective is to ensure that our employees feel supported throughout their career and grow professionally. In our diverse culture, we constantly take measure to enforce an inclusive culture where no harassment or discrimination is tolerated. We are sorry to hear you perceive a lack of what you refer to as a HR department. We have payroll functions taking care of all employee contractual matters such as contracts, insurances, taxes etc. In terms of salary, we do review our compensation structure regularly to ensure we are offering a competitive package. We wish you all the best in your future career.

Explore other reviews about EF (Education First)

5.0
May 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Fun place to work at. Lots of opportunities especially early on in a career.

Cons

Sometimes salary is not as competitive as other places in Boston area.

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EF (Education First) Response
1mo
Well this is what it's all about! Early career opportunities while having fun along the way is a big part of what we hope people experience working at EF, and we are happy to hear this in your reflection. Thank you for sharing your note on compensation as well. We review our compensation packages regularly to make sure they align with our industry standards, and we appreciate your perspective on that.
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.

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