By Jeff Cordes and Ann Marie Logan

E-business consulting firms offer the excitement of working with Internet startups, leading corporations looking to get online, and countless other derivations of the so-called "Internet company." They also offer a high level of exposure to venture capital firms, cutting-edge technology, and usually, a steep learning curve and stimulating career path. Who wouldn't want to join one?

The problem, of course, is figuring out if you're a match for one of these firms. Following is an inside look at the recruiting process at Xpedior, a leading e-business consulting firm with 23 offices worldwide.

The Xpedior Recruiting Process: Finding the Right Position for the Right Person

Like most firms, Xpedior is committed to finding the right position for the right individual - from recent college graduates to seasoned professionals. To do this, Xpedior takes a multi-dimensional approach to recruiting.

We leverage several recruiting tools. Here are some examples.

• Internet job board recruiting. We use the power of the Internet on a regular basis. Although Internet recruiting is somewhat passive in nature, we - above all businesses - understand its power and use it to our advantage.

• Xpedior Web site. Some active job seekers in the industry may not be posting their resumes on Internet job boards, but they are checking out competitors. When they click to Xpedior's site, they find a dynamic career page that offers a glimpse into our culture, work environment, and benefits, and are encouraged to apply.

• Employee referrals. A significant part of recruiting, the amount of employee referrals is a clear reflection of company morale. A win-win situation for both Xpedior and its consultants, we offer a campaign rewarding employees who refer candidates who are hired. To spur referrals for a specific immediate need, Xpedior often incorporates special campaigns that offer additional bonuses for employees and recruits.

• The old standby: Networking. Xpedior is an active member in a variety of e-business associations and boards and is active in the communities in which its 23 offices are located. Just as potential candidates hear about exciting opportunities here and elsewhere, we hear about talented individuals through the grapevine.

• Targeted recruiting. One of the newest and most significant recruiting tools, Xpedior uses targeted recruiting specifically for positions at the managing consultant level and above. It involves identifying organizations who have employees with a specific skill set who are content and successful in their jobs. We contact them and discuss the industry, our space, and the latest Xpedior news, and then ask them for referrals. It's a kind of "Who's Who" among candidates with the goal of getting contact information for three to four qualified candidates, perhaps even piquing the interest of the contacted individual.

• College recruiting. Clearly, college campuses are a hot spot for recruiting talented individuals. Xpedior actively recruits on campuses from coast to coast to find the talent we need. While the process varies by college campus, our goal is to recruit the best and brightest new graduates. This year, we're looking to hire about 250 entry level consultants and will recruit on more than 50 campuses.

• Internships. Internships offer students an opportunity to practically apply what they're learning in their classes and provide them with first-hand knowledge to manage their career track upon graduation. What a successful internship program, like Xpedior's, also offers is a chance for Xpedior to mentor talented college students and hopefully retain them upon graduation. As with our consultants, Xpedior interns often are the best recruiters, simply by word of mouth.

• Special programs. Occasionally, Xpedior launches special recruiting programs to meet specific needs. One such program is the X Games, which is a large scale recruiting process involving team-based interviewing. This type of program brings in a wide variety of people and generates a positive buzz. Xpedior has had many successes with this type of recruiting in the Midwest, Northwest and Northeast.

How to Get in the Door at Xpedior: Resumes That Stand Out

It's an exciting time right now at Xpedior -our culture is as innovative and imaginative as our business. So, unlike the Big 5 firms, we're flexible and professional. We promote hard work and a fun atmosphere.

At Xpedior, we foster knowledge sharing and a flexible, team-based culture that's professional and fun. We want someone who fits in with our philosophy - and we look for these qualities across the board, from a new college graduate to a partner at a large consulting firm. It's important for us to get an idea of how your culture fits in with ours. We are truly committed to finding the right position for the right individual.

Obviously, specific skill sets vary by position. Likewise, requirements vary by position and even at times, by region. But, what is constant is that Xpedior is looking for candidates who are bold, imaginative, adventurous, innovative and professional. We're looking for candidates who are eager to mentor, but also to learn while working side by side with seasoned pros, as well as fresh college graduates.

That said, some general characteristics that will likely catch our eye are a demonstrated technical acumen and the ability to demonstrate success in using leading-edge technology. Just as important are a passion for teamwork and entrepreneurialism, tremendous self-initiative and flexibility.

If your resume demonstrates these qualities and more, you're likely to line up an interview with Xpedior. Now, what should you expect during Xpedior's interview process?

The Xpedior Interview: What to Expect

Our dynamic culture extends to our interviewing process. Interviewing at Xpedior is not just a single-thread process. It's a two-way process - open, collaborative and flexible. We are just as committed to ensuring that Xpedior is the right fit for you as we are to ensuring that you are the right match for us.

The person who interviews you will not necessarily be a polished, "professional" interviewer. An interviewer will likely be someone who is as experienced as you and shares a similar background. It will be someone who can share first hand knowledge of the available position and brings a real-life understanding to the interview - adding credibility to the interview process.

An Xpedior candidate should be prepared to offer real-life examples of his or her technical expertise and ability to perform. As important, a candidate should be able to offer behavioral examples of teamwork and initiative.

The interview process is really a balance between technical and behavioral skills. A candidate may be able to demonstrate their skill at Web design, but if he or she can't demonstrate the ability to work creatively in a team, that candidate will not make it past the interview process.

At Xpedior, we want the best possible candidate. We're not looking for technical skills only. We're looking for a well-rounded individual with the right combination of technical skills and cultural qualities we desire. Simply put, we'd much rather hire an overall athlete than someone who is an exceptional basketball player.

So if you think you're a right match and you're looking for a challenging career at one of the industry's leading e-business firms, visit our web site at www.xpedior.com and apply for a position in one of our worldwide offices.

Jeff Cordes is the senior vice president for human resources at Xpedior. Prior to joining the firm, Jeff served as the global leader of the Enterprise Transformation business for James Martin Technology Consulting. Jeff holds a MBA in Organizational Leadership from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University, and a B.S. in Organizational Management and a B.A. in Economics from Franklin College. He can be reached at jeff.cordes@xpedior.com.

Xpedior is a leading provider of innovative and comprehensive eBusiness solutions to Global 2000 companies and emerging Internet businesses. We use our Xpedior Process and our reusable solutions, or eBusiness Xpediators, to deliver a broad range of services designed to help our clients succeed in the emerging networked economy. We combine extensive technical expertise with strategy consulting and creative design services to enable our clients to capitalize on the communications power and transaction efficiency of the Internet. Since 1994, we have demonstrated our ability to develop e-business solutions that allow our clients to generate new revenue opportunities and operate more efficiently. Discover more about Xpedior at www.xpedior.com.