You’ve probably come across those companies that will treat you at reception like they’re your mother asking you lots of questions, but when it comes to them sharing information with you it’s off limits. All’s fair in love and war, as someone once said, but it leaves me wondering if companies that adopt this policy have something to hide or are in genuine fear that sharing names will somehow violate the company culture, standing, security or whatever. Hopefully they still print their names onto their business cards.

Whatever the case, it appears to be on the increase. How do you deal with it?

Again, networking your way in or being referred may supply an answer, but when you’re on the telephone these options aren’t available. The fact is it’s very hard to create rapport with anyone who has been given orders not to divulge names of colleagues over the telephone.

Aside from doing additional research on the internet or with people you know, which is time consuming and may reveal nothing, all you can do is to offer to share your website details with them… and move on. Don’t sweat it, there are more companies

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