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The giving trees If a tree falls in a forest, the chances are that International Paper will hear it. The company is the world's largest forestry products company, manufacturing a wide range of paper, packaging, and wood products. With control of more than 6.3 million acres in America, 1 million acres in Chile, and 800,000 acres in New Zealand, International Paper produces the paper for magazines such as Cosmopolitan and brands like Hammermill and Strathmore. The labels and boxes that the company makes contain everything from fresh produce to Microsoft Windows. While manufacturing will always be the company's top priority, International Paper generates a quarter of its revenues from the distribution of paper products and other office supplies, mostly through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Xpedx (formerly ResourceNet International). Pulping together a powerhouse International Paper was founded in 1898, when 18 Northeastern pulp and paper companies consolidated. During the 1920s, the company entered the kraft (or "strength") paper industry, which has been an International Paper mainstay ever since. In more recent years, the company has emphasized growth by acquisition, buying several paper and distribution companies during the 1980s. In 1998, Internatinal Paper bought giant rival Union Camp for $6.6 billion and paid $263 million for the distribution business of rival Mead. But these mergers have come at a price. International Paper is looking to merge the new businesses and then slim down the resulting operations. If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em Acquiring a major competitor recognized for its environmental responsibility hasn't hurt the company's conscience at all. Continuing the rash of acquisitions in 2000, International Paper bought rival Champion International for $9.3 billion and announced the sale of $3 billion in assets to help pay for it, and the elimination of 2000 jobs. Before the acquisition, Champion International was one of the largest private landholders in the States and had a strong presence in the U.S., Canada, and Brazil as a major producer and supplier of coated and uncoated papers. Ace Packaging Systems Inc. and Shorewood Packaging Corp. also became part of International Paper in 2000, with the company taking on hundreds of millions of dollars in debt for them. Friend of the forest? Meanwhile, International Paper, the biggest player in a field notorious for pollutants and deforestation, has capitalized on the increase of environmental consciousness. The company has produced recycled paper since 1993. The company is working toward a 50-percent recovery standard on all paper products by the end of the century.
With a few exceptions, International Paper's plants and facilities conduct their own hiring. The company prefers to promote from within and does not usually post job openings externally. Some positions, however, are advertised in local newspapers and trade publications. The company conducts extensive on-campus recruiting (check web site for department-specific details). Even though International Paper's "official" headquarters is in Purchase, NY, most corporate operations are conducted at a large office complex in Memphis, Tennessee. Many employees consider this locale to be the "true" headquarters. Applicants are invited to send their resumes and cover letters to the Memphis office. Note: International Paper does not accept faxed resumes.
Large company, long day International Paper is a large, diversified company, and those who work for it emphasize that the working conditions vary from site to site. The Memphis corporate office is a "huge," "posh" complex, where employees work "manageable" work weeks in an "interactive" setting. Work schedules at the facilities tend to be more "flexible," but become more stringent as the end of a production cycle nears. "There can be no doubt that IP is a demanding employer," says one IP insider. "My work hours on an average day are 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., or longer if there are production issues to be addressed." The place to be No matter where they are in the company, IP insiders stress how much they appreciate the company's "effective" efforts at job training and its "extensive" community involvement. Sources also appreciate the "work team" emphasis that allows for individuality and flexibility. Recent hires say they have been encouraged to choose their "own direction and focus." Says one contact: "If you are talented, driven, and eager to take on responsibility, IP is the place to be."
Human Resources
Paper;Packaging;Wood;Office Supply Distribution;
Georgia-Pacific;Smurfit;Kimberly-Clark;Mead;3M More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
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