Outstanding benefits, great people... terrible work-life balance - Anonymous employee EF Education First Employee Review

2.0
Mar 26, 2011
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Benefits cannot be beat: 3 weeks vacation to start, one additional week earned per year; fantastic medical, including domestic partnership benefits; maternal and paternal leave; travel discounts on flights, hotels, rentals cars People are great--I made lifelong friends there

Cons

Work-life balance is a joke. They encourage you to travel and have a life outside of work, but they understaff and overwork so that is not possible. Pay is garbage. They pay peanuts, and try to compensate for that by throwing frequent parties with free beer. There is a culture of mistreatment; people are disposable. I know more ex-EFers who have a passionate hatred for the company than those who like it. It's like an extension of college--lots of drinking, hooking up, and immature behavior. The company as a whole has a bad reputation for outrageous parties (i.e. people throwing up in restaurants, getting into fights).

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

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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
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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