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As a favor to friends, I’ll sometimes do informational interviews with folks they know who are breaking into the workforce or looking to change jobs. The people are generally delightful, and I’d love to help them, but many are so vague that I honestly don’t know how. When you need a job and aren’t totally sure what you want, it can seem like a good strategy to leave yourself open to fate. “I’d like something in communications.” Well, yes . . . but what kind of communications job? Marketing? Advertising? Public relations? For a nonprofit? A big corporation? In health care? Consumer products? It becomes a monumental task to even think about how to provide assistance.

It’s far easier to help people with specific, targeted requests. Francine, who took a marketing class I taught at Tufts University, asked for advice on getting “a job in marketing for a food-related business.” Thanks to her specificity, it was immediately apparent how I could help. I set her up with informational interviews with my friend Stephen, a restaurant consultant, and Larry, who ran an artisanal chocolate company. She ended up helping Larry with some product demonstrations and he connected her with an internship.

But what if you aren’t sure what you want or you’re interested in multiple potential careers? Just make something up for now. Being specific will expand your options, not limit them. People are likely to say, “I don’t know anyone in New England archaeology, but if you like historic preservation, I know someone who works at the Victorian Society.” You want to paint a picture so clear that your contacts are thinking about real-life people they know who can help you.

Finally, a caveat—you’re likely to hurt your cause if your informational interview is actually a bait and switch. Don’t call up your contacts for a casual get-together, only to surprise them with the news that you, too, want to get into their field. Instead, be up front about your motives and they’ll likely say yes.