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EF (Education First)

Engaged employer

Not a place to make a career - Software Engineer EF (Education First) Employee Review

2.0
Feb 14, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great culture, the headquarters in Boston is beautiful, great people across the company. There's also a great opportunity for traveling to their other offices or sales kickoffs. Lots of free alcohol.

Cons

- Very low pay. No bonuses, no equity, and you pay for everything, such as coffee. The company itself is very cheap despite making enormous sums of money. - Management is pretty horrible across all levels. Good workers are generally not recognized and leave as a result. - Work / Life balance is a core value, but usually not respected by managers - No clear professional development path - "Perks" are a joke, especially if you aren't interested in sporting events (subsidized tickets is their main perk) - Everyone in all departments are treated as short-term employees - EF is a revolving door and they have a real hard time retaining talent. It makes it hard to build a strong team if you become a veteran EF employee after 3 years of working there. This works okay for sales positions, but for technical, marketing or finance positions, filling those gaps is incredibly hard on everyone.

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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