I have eight years of professional experience, including over five in live events—serving as a Tour Manager, Project/Production Manager at an international talent and live events agency, and in other roles across the industry. Mills James has long been on my radar due to their strong presence in my home state of Ohio, so when I saw the Resource Coordinator position posted, I jumped at the opportunity. I went through two rounds of interviews—first with the Senior Operations Manager, then with the Director of Event Operations. Both conversations were engaging and encouraging. There were some concerns, such as employees working in full coats and gloves due to a broken HVAC system during extremely cold (15-20 degree) weather. Still, I was willing to overlook these issues to be part of a company whose work I identified with. Following my second interview, the Director of Events Operations emailed me, stating directly, “I would like to offer you the position,” and included a start date and hourly rate. Believing I had received a formal offer, I made immediate life changes to prepare: I transferred my child to a new daycare location near the Mills James warehouse, declined a third interview with another live events company, and began familiarizing myself with their software to hit the ground running. However, after that email, all communication stopped. I made multiple attempts to reach out, and after several weeks, I was finally able to speak with a Client Services Supervisor. She informed me that the Director of Events Operations had experienced a death in his immediate family. I understood the gravity of that situation and gave it space. After 21 days without further contact, I received an email from the Director of Event Operations stating they had been conducting interviews and decided to move forward with another candidate. He claimed his original message—explicitly stating an offer—was merely meant to "begin negotiations.” I was completely shocked. The experience was not only disappointing but felt misleading and unprofessional. Clearly, there was no death in the Director of Operations’ immediate family, and to cut off communications for 3 weeks after sending an offer email is unconscionable. At best, the communication was severely mishandled; at worst, I was led to make life-altering decisions based on an offer that was never truly extended. This experience has significantly impacted my view of Mills James. If this is reflective of how the Director of Event Operations engages with prospective employees, it raises serious concerns about the organization’s internal communication and leadership practices—especially in an industry where clarity, reliability, and professionalism are essential. For those pursuing a serious career in live events, I would recommend looking elsewhere.