Smithsonian Student Travel - Decent FIrst Job, Inadequate Management & Talent Retention - Sales EF Education First Employee Review

1.0
Apr 14, 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

If you are right out of college and lack overall professional experience EF can be a good place to start your career. They have thorough entry level sales training which provides a good basis and understanding for a career in sales. If you find you like sales and have excelled, then move on and respectfully take your skills elsewhere.

Cons

-Pay is insubstantial to say the very least. -They portray an unrealistic work environment. They will tell you it's fun, young, and exciting. It is young, however it is neither fun or exciting. On a social level it is like being back in High School where everyone knows your business and there is more participation in back stabbing in order to get a leg up, rather than working for it. Also, it's not exciting because you are expected to call through your pipeline like a machine and this becomes brainless very fast. -Management focuses more on numbers than an individuals overall development. With proper development numbers will follow organically while maintaing a successful and happy work force. -Middle Management is sub-par mainly due to the fact that they lack overall experience and ability to assist in professional development. -Some Senior Level Managment is underqualified and unprofessional. Senior Management does not value their employees. Some of these individuals openly express their feelings of regret for hiring current employees. Additionally, they talk down in a demeaning manner to new and tenured employees creating an unstable and unhealthy work environment. At an organizational level, there are many instances where entry level employees to high-ups partake in innapropriate conversations with regards to co-workers and other varying subjects. This may be in part to having a bar located on the first floor of the building. I guess some people shouldn't consume alcohol if they can't act in an appropriate manner. -Very Political. For the most part, promotion from within is based on who management likes on a personal level and is not based on abilities, growth potential, level of intelligence, and overall tenure and contributions at an organizational level.

Explore other reviews about EF Education First

5.0
Apr 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good training, good communication especially for a remote position, flexible, great management

Cons

Scheduling and staffing effectively could be challenging due to unpredictable nature of emergency response, which caused both understaffed shifts and overstaffed shifts. In addition, phone-based customer service can be emotionally challenging - customers in stressful situations can often be difficult to deal with.

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EF Education First Response
1mo
Hearing that the training, communication, and management stood out, especially in a remote setting, is really meaningful. Thank you for sharing! As you mentioned, the nature of emergency response is inherently unpredictable. Our phone-based support in high stress situations can be central to defining the experience for travelers, and the people who handle it are a big part of that. We’re proud of the team you were part of and hope the skills you built here continue to serve you well.
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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