Disappointing Experience – Especially for Overseas Hires
My experience at Rocket Lab was far from what I was led to believe. I relocated with high hopes of building a new life and career, but unfortunately, the reality didn’t match the promises. During the recruitment process, everything sounded ideal — but once on the ground, it quickly became clear that much of it was just a sales pitch. it turned out to be more of a nightmare then a dream.
The work can be monotonous, and the internal culture leaves a lot to be desired. There’s an overwhelming amount of pointless emails and mandatory “courses” that add no real value. Worse still, management was not only unhelpful but at times unprofessional — openly laughing at employees behind their backs and providing little to no actual support. If you push back or speak up, you’re seen as disposable. At the end of the day, you’re just a number.
It’s worth mentioning that many of the positive reviews you’ll read were written by new starters shortly after joining — often encouraged to do so before they’ve had time to see the full picture.
If you’re considering relocating from overseas, please go in with your eyes wide open. The initial pitch may sound exciting, but the reality is often very different.
Another major issue was the lack of stability and respect for agreed terms. Many employees — myself included — were brought over on specific contract terms (such as 4-day or 5-day shifts), only to have those conditions changed without warning. There was little to no consultation, and if you couldn’t accommodate the new schedule, the response was simple and harsh: your job was at risk.
This kind of treatment leaves overseas employees especially vulnerable, having relocated their lives only to face shifting goalposts and zero flexibility. It reflects a lack of professionalism and empathy, especially when people have made significant personal sacrifices to join the company.
