First off—some background. I interviewed with Univar Solutions this past month, in October of 2019. It was my second onsite visit to their Downers Grove HQ in the past 3 ½ years. I was torn about whether or not to spend the necessary time/energy to compete for this role, solely based on my previous experience (in 2016). I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt as the company had undergone several major changes over the past few years, including a major acquisition, a name change (and rebranding), and office refurbishment. I was hoping the way in which I was treated previously was anomaly. I’ve since come to realize that it wasn’t. I figure I invested approx. 8 full hours of my time on this latest cycle of fruitless vetting. The application, a phone screen, a half-day onsite interview (+prep + commute), emails. I interviewed slightly more than 3 weeks ago. To date, I have heard nothing, including non-responses to interview follow-up (“Thank you”) emails I sent to several members of their team. Not one single-sentence reply of acknowledgement. Ghosted. It was an identical replay of my previous cycle in 2016. The most dumbfounding part of all of this? I applied last month as an employee referral. I can only imagine how they handle candidates that come in unattached. One thing is for sure, if I was a current employee of Univar’s, I’d be wary of how they treat people, and think twice about forwarding referrals in the future. I’ve spent my entire career as a Recruiter; working in Staffing/Search, Corporate HR, and as a Talent Acquisition Consultant. When I speak to candidates, it is painfully obvious to me that Human Resources, as a whole, does not have the best reputation. It saddens and angers me when I learn, first-hand, that it’s a reputation that is often richly deserved. Throughout the work week, I work doubly hard to overcome their perceptions, and repair the damage done. I don’t typically post negative interview reviews on Glassdoor unless I feel it’s the type of feedback that could potentially save fellow candidates from the same type of frustration, disrespect, and regret that I have experienced. When potential employers repeatedly deliver a distasteful candidate experience, it really should be highlighted online, shared with industry peers (potential future employees), and result in a direct letter to the CEO and CHRO. And in this case, it will be. There is no excuse for this level of unprofessionalism. If I was a C-level executive at this company, I’d be very concerned with how they are being perceived in an ultra-competitive employment market with record low unemployment. People share. Rest assured that I will be forthcoming about my first-hand Univar experience with anyone that is willing to listen. As an outsider, I’d consider whether or not they are the type of organization I’d want to represent. They leave a lot to be desired.