Informational interviews help you explore career options and make connections by giving you a safe environment to ask pointed questions. But there's a risk: If you don't make a good first impression, you can torpedo the relationship. Find a balance by being upfront about the help you're asking for. You may not know exactly where you're headed, and that's OK. But you still need to come across in a way that inspires confidence and makes others want to help you. Create a brief positioning statement before you start to make inquiries. It doesn't have to be 100% clear, but it should give a general sense of what you want. If you aren't sure, or you're interested in more than one potential career, just be as specific as you can.
Source: Harvard Business Review - Today's Management Tip was adapted from the HBR Guide to Getting the Right Job.