I'd love to tell you how great we are, if only I knew!

April 29, 2008 2:45 PM

Started a new job a week ago, heading to an industry informational panel tomorrow that will provide a huge opportunity for networking. How do I avoid looking like a shmuck when I'm asked a question about my new company and I don't know the answer?

I've read up on our marketing materials and have a solid idea of how to describe what we do, but I'm sure I'll get a few questions during my feverish networking efforts that are specific to certain areas of capability that I just don't know yet on account of my new-ness. How do I answer these questions successfully without going into some sort of, "Well, I actually just started last week, so I don't really know, but I'll check on it for you!" It seems a bit amateurish to me, and I'd like to be a good representative for my new colleagues.

posted by undercoverhuwaaah to work & money (8 comments total)

I should add, I'm on the low-end of the totem pole (read: I probably won't ever know all the details of everything we do), but it's a small office, so we've all got to be big advocates for the business.
posted by undercoverhuwaaah at 2:47 PM on April 29, 2008

"I'm still fairly new and settling in, so I haven't ran across the answer to that specific query yet. Why don't I take your card/information so that I can better answer that question for you once I'm back in the office?"
posted by Someone has just shot your horse! at 3:48 PM on April 29, 2008 [2 favorites]

i'd rather have you tell me your new, than give my information that's wrong.

You are better off staying close to someone who has been there a while and listen to his/her answers to the questions, so you are better prepared for the next networking mixer. Pass out cards, collect cards, shake hands, and don't pretend to know more than you do. why risk losing your credability the very first week!!
posted by Mr_Chips at 4:09 PM on April 29, 2008

Will you be near your colleagues? I have been in the same boat and said, "Sue here can answer that. Sue, Bob was just asking me about the x5000 and its capabilities..." and passed the person off to Sue.

Otherwise, people will be understanding. In fact, they'll probably be impressed that you know as much as you do for only being there a week. Someone has just shot your horse!'s response is appropriate as well.
posted by ml98tu at 4:25 PM on April 29, 2008

Yeah, my strongest recommendation would be the no-bullshit approach. There's nothing wrong with being new. Read and absorb all you can, but if you don't know the answer to something, don't try to fool anyone.

Plus, if you say you'll get back to someone on something, and then actually do it, that's a chance to solidify the connection; they'll remember that you delivered what you said you would, even if you didn't know the answer upfront.

Don't pretend expertise you don't have, follow up and make sure problems get solved, and everything should go just fine.

In other words, saying, "Well, I actually just started last week, so I don't really know, but I'll check on it for you!" is perfectly acceptable and professional. I'd probably phrase it a little differently, as in, "I'm sorry, I'm new to the company and I don't know that yet. If you'll give me your card, I'll be sure to get back to you. Do you need an answer right away? I can make some calls if it's urgent." And then, of course, actually do that.

The biggest thing is not to let purchase decisions go by; if someone's close to deciding on your product/service as opposed to someone else's, you need to get them to someone more senior pronto. Even in business, people still follow the look/shop/buy approach, and you can probably safely deal with lookers even when very junior. Shoppers and buyers should most likely be pushed up the totem pole.
posted by Malor at 4:38 PM on April 29, 2008

what Someone has just shot your horse! said. that's what i've done a jillion times at conferences for different jobs. don't act ashamed or, like, really upset that you don't know the answer to their question. being new isn't a sin and it isn't the same as being ignorant of your company's ins and outs.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 4:47 PM on April 29, 2008

Nthing everyone, especially misanthropicsarah's point about being new not being a sin.

Another way to play your response: "I started last week, so I'm a little embarrassed to say that I can't answer that. Hey, let's exchange cards, though and hey, [insert related question about their job here]."
posted by desuetude at 5:11 PM on April 29, 2008

If you get their card, it'd be worth writing their question on their card. (make sure you have a pen)
posted by kjs4 at 12:36 AM on April 30, 2008