EF (Education First)

The world's largest private education company

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Unternehmenstyp

Großunternehmen

Branche

Andere Dienstleistungen für Unternehmen und Privatpersonen

Standort

Selnaustrasse 30, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

Bevorstehendes Event (1)

Nachrichten (15)

  • Recruitment

    How to make your time abroad stand out to employers

    Spending time abroad—whether for Erasmus, work, or travel—is about so much more than collecting stamps in your passport. Employers consistently highlight “international experience” as a signal of adaptability, resilience, and cross-cultural communication, all core human skills that are increasingly valued in today’s job market. But many candidates struggle add these experiences into their CVs and in interviews.  At EF, our recruitment team doesn’t just look at where you’ve been. We care about what you learned, how you adapted, and why those experiences matter now. When we review CVs, the candidates who stand out are the ones who connect their international experience to clear skills, outcomes, and growth.  Here are five tips from our team to turn your time abroad into a career advantage:   1. Make it personal  A line on your CV or cover letter like “Did a semester abroad in Italy” doesn’t tell us much. What recruiters want to know is: how did that experience shape you? Why was it important?  Example: “Traveled solo through Southeast Asia and learned how to navigate new cultures and logistics on my own. It gave me confidence to be the new person in a place where I feel a little uncomfortable, and confident in my ability to get around.”  Example: “Joined a local football team during my exchange in Spain. Building friendships and winning a championship with people who spoke 5 different languages helped me learn to communicate differently.”  👉 Tip: When we see candidates explain not just what they did but what it meant to them, it shows maturity and reflection. This helps employers understand what kind of person you are and what you bring to the workplace.    2. Focus on outcomes  Experiences abroad become even stronger when you can point to the impact you made.  Example: “While traveling solo, met a local bar owner in Malaysia and helped her grow foot traffic through new marketing ideas. And we’re still in touch today!”  Example: “Volunteered with a local NGO in Peru, and went door to door inviting neighbors near the building, that doubled attendance at their next workshop.”  👉 Tip: Use action verbs and results. Show what changed because of your contribution.   3. Use stories in interviews  International experiences can give you ready-made answers to interview questions. These aren’t bullet points on a CV—they’re mini narratives you can expand on to show how you behave in real situations.  “Tell me about a challenge you overcame” → navigating a train strike in Paris while staying calm, problem-solving, and finding alternatives home  “Tell me about a time you worked with a diverse team” → collaborating with classmates from five nationalities on a joint project and helped with a miscommunication 👉 Tip: Come prepared with 2–3 short stories. We remember the candidates who can turn an experience into a clear demonstration of grit, adaptability, or collaboration.   4. Connect it to the role  Your time abroad might be impressive, but will stand out the most when the recruiter can understand how it can be tied directly to the job.  Sales → negotiating with people from different cultural backgrounds  Marketing → understanding consumer insights in new markets  Operations → coordinating across time zones, navigating complex logistics, or problem-solving in fast-changing environments  👉 Tip: Read the job description closely, then link your global experience to the skills they’re asking for.    5. Position it strategically on your CV  Where you place your experience matters. When we review CVs, we notice if international experience is buried—or if it’s presented clearly in the right section.  In Education → Erasmus in Berlin – coursework in international business  In Work Experience → Internship in Paris – supported bilingual marketing campaign  In Skills → languages, intercultural abilities, global awareness  👉 Tip: recruiters often scan a CV in under a minute. If your international experience is hidden or phrased vaguely, we might miss it. Put it where it’s most relevant and make it easy for us to see right away.    If you want to work for a company that values international experiences like these, explore our open roles at EF (Education First) here. 

  • Recruitment

    EF's 360 Global Trainee Program | Graduate Program

    Applications opening Fall 2025 If you're a recent graduate  with 360 degrees of talent and vision, we want you to be part of EF's highly selective 18-month rotational program. Our 360s become the future leaders of EF and help us continue our worldwide growth. You will work closely with a senior executive who will be your mentor. Who's this program for: This highly selective trainee program is for recent graduates with 360 degrees of talent and vision. This job is highly demanding. If you are deterred by jet lag, the idea of getting totally hands-on, or working long hours, this program is not for you. Your 360 experience: It’s as much a mission as it is a job. Working closely with a senior executive, you could be asked to produce a viral marketing campaign, analyze sales data, work in one of our schools, or propose a new design for a mobile app. No assignment is too big or small. You will be offered 2-3 rotations to a different office throughout the program to take advantage of our global presence. Your career path: Once you become truly 360 (to us, that means fully versed in EF’s entrepreneurial operating style), you can earn a position within the organization that best suits your talents and skills. Positions range from team manager in Boston to business analyst in Zurich to project manager in Shanghai, and anything and anywhere in between. FAQs Why are there different applications? We recruit in multiple regions, so have applications in Europe, North America, and Asia. The region is related to your home base and where you will work after the program. Please read each job description for any regional requirements. When does the EF 360 Global Trainee Program start? The program starts September each year. What is the application process for the EF 360 Global Trainee Program? The application process includes at least two interviews and ends with an assessment day. Recruitment for the 2026 cohort starts in fall 2025. Check out our careers site to learn more and apply once applications open. 

  • Arbeitsleben

    EF celebrates Pride around the world

    Celebrating our LGBTQ+ community—this June and every month 🏳️‍🌈 Check out how some of our offices around the world showed up for Pride. ❤️ Colleagues in Thailand celebrating at the Bangkok Pride Parade 🧡 Our EF London office’s karaoke night 💛Our North American headquarters marching in the Boston Pride for the People parade 💚 EF Denver (including LGBTQ+ @ EF co-captain, Peter!) celebrating together 💙 Our Zürich office marching in their local Pride parade 💜 A Pride-themed bookclub with the EF Toronto office 🖤 More fun from Bangkok Pride 🤎 Our EF Panama office with a booth at Panama Pride 🩵 Colleagues shared what Pride means to them in London 🩷 Even rain can’t stop our pride in Boston! 🤍 Colleagues from Zürich posing as the parade marches past our global headquarters View all the pics:

  • Arbeitsleben

    Work that matters: Lori's EF journey

    Here at EF Education First, one person can work in multiple locations and hold various roles, all while working towards one mission—Lori van Dam, the Chief Executive Officer of Hult Prize, knows this well.

  • Arbeitsleben

    Meet Sabrina, a 360 Global Trainee

    The one-year trainee program gives recent graduates a chance to be mentored by an EF senior leader and have firsthand experience in multiple facets of the business.