Warning: Exploitative, Unethical Practices and No Accountability…read more
Avoid this agency at all costs. As an experienced professional with a master's degree, I was subjected to the most exploitative, dehumanizing, and financially damaging nightmare of my career. This agency prioritizes commissions over the dignity and security of the candidates they claim to represent. If they could create such a disastrous placement for me, then they can do this to entry-level candidates with far less protection.
The recruiter, Charitha, paired me with a CEO who had already terminated and disparaged a prior candidate. Instead of vetting this client with basic professional judgment, she aligned herself with him, using high-pressure tactics to secure a spontaneous commitment from me over the phone. Charitha even pressured me for a 5-star review before my contract began, which explains their inflated 4.8 star rating. This manufactured feedback scam prioritizes fake optics over actual results.
The narcopath CEO demanded "loyalty" and long-term commitment, while using me as a temporary placeholder as he secured the return of a former employee. Based on this fraudulent inducement, I turned down a serious opportunity with an IP firm. The CEO--who neglected onboarding, refused to introduce me to staff, and left me idling--then terminated my contract within the first week. He admitted that he "lacked the operational structure and resources to onboard a new hire." He delivered the termination with a disturbing smile, calling it "exciting news" for him.
Contemptuous and Condescending Culture
This agency uses the most condescending, aggressively micromanaging, and infantilizing language I have ever seen. They treat experienced professionals like unruly high school interns with no common sense. Most embarrassing is their "Leaving the Nest" podcast that they encourage you to listen to on the way to interviews.
During my placement, I was subjected to illegal and unethical behaviors:
Illegal inquiries: The CEO explicitly asked my age, while acknowledging that doing so was "inappropriate and illegal." His demeanor became hostile after learning that I was older than he expected.
Data and privacy breaches: I was given access to prior employee emails without any security protocols. I was expected to operate under the full name of the employee who was coming back to replace me, whose signature was never removed. The full name of the employee who had been terminated before me--whom this CEO repeatedly disparaged, including outlining the reasons for their termination--was also available to me. I have never seen such egregious data privacy and confidentiality violations, and I am confident that my own information is now similarly exposed in their system.
Unprofessionalism and disrespect: The CEO used derogatory language (including the b-word) during the interview and refused to reimburse agreed-upon parking expenses at termination: another petty power move layered on top of the discard.
ROCS's Response -- Deflection and Zero Accountability:
When I reported these serious concerns, ROCS abandoned me. They immediately shifted into corporate deflection mode to protect their liability, offering no condemnation of the employer's actions and no remedy for the situation. Charitha offered zero apology, and repeatedly tried to avoid a written record by pushing me for a phone call. The agency refused to pay me for weeks following my termination. Tom Moore, their co-founder, offered basic parking reimbursement and a perfunctory "sorry to hear about your job; that's unfortunate how that ended."
Bottom Line
ROCS is a bloodless, transactional agency that treats professionals as disposable assets. There is a reason they target young professionals and recent grads: no mid-level or experienced professionals would tolerate this level of malpractice, contempt for candidates, and complete absence of accountability. I have reported the employer for his legal and ethical violations. If you care about your professional and financial wellbeing, avoid these predators.
