How much time should I ask people for when requesting introductory interviews?

Anonymous

September 24,2021 at 2:34AM UTC

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How much time should I ask people for when requesting introductory interviews?

I am new in my position and my boss wants me to do an environmental scan of work being done in our unit in a certain topic. I need to ask my colleagues individually for information not easily found doing a Google search or in internal documents. I hope to not only get this information but to develop positive working relationships with them. (For context, our office is still fully remote after 18 months and won't be back in the office for a while, so it's impossible to have casual conversations around the water cooler. I find it difficult to organically firm working relationships in this situation.)

To accomplish all of this, I would like to have an hour with each of my colleagues but I know that they are all stretched thin and busy. When I send them a calendar invitation when they agree to meet with me, how much time should I schedule it for? I don't want to be presumptuous and annoy people with a time slot that they may think is too long (an hour) but I think 30 minutes might be too rushed. What advice do you have? Should I try to schedule it for 60 minutes, saying we might not need the whole hour? Does it matter if the people are managers vs. non-managers? Any other considerations I haven't mentioned?

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AnonymousSeptember 24,2021 at 5:35AM UTC
Depends on how swamped everyone is. I set 30 minutes to talk to directors and played it by ear. Some of them were so busy it made sense to talk for 20 minutes then let them have their time back. Some of them were happy to talk for the total time and could've kept talking had the meeting been 45 minutes. It's good to use your EQ skills in each case and recognize the cues of whether someone wants to keep talking or not. But I will say, making introductions was a very effective step in establishing relationships with leaders from different departments.
Prerna PrasadSeptember 24,2021 at 7:29AM UTC
Give them time slot and date options and say openly that it may take anywhere between 30-45 minutes but since there are always many things to know and learn, you are suggesting to block off 1 hour. Just dont be rigid with a particular time and date and express your consideration that they are occupied with different tasks so you are seeking a mutually convenient time to fulfil demands of the assignment. All the best!
Jackie GhedineSeptember 24,2021 at 11:08AM UTC
The goal is to get someone to say yes, to not feel as though it's an over-commitment and not have them cancel because of other priorities. My suggestion is always 30-minutes, which it seems like it isn't a ton of time, if you are prepared, succinct and specific with what you want to know, you can absolutely accomplish a lot in this shorter amount of time.
Joyel CrawfordSeptember 28,2021 at 3:24PM UTC
Hi! My two cents is to schedule at least 30 minutes with the the person you're interviewing. Do your homework, prepare some questions and it doesn't hurt to bring your resume with you for review. You may find that they can take a look at your experience and give you industry insider information. And please make sure to send a thank you note. Yeah, it's not a formal interview for a job- but every interaction is a job interview. Good luck and have fun!
SUSAN KAHANSeptember 28,2021 at 3:25PM UTC
Agreed - 30 minutes is appropriate. If you really hit it off with someone, you can ask, "would it be ok if we did another, less formal meeting in a month or so? I'd love to learn more about you then. "
Good luck!
Stephanie DufnerSeptember 28,2021 at 11:01PM UTC
I agree with the previous commenters: 30 minutes max. It will give you enough time to ask pertinent questions and get thoughtful responses without taking too much of someone's time.
Anne MatsushitaOctober 3,2021 at 8:26PM UTC
Congrats on your new role! I agree with the 30-minute suggestions, and following up later if needed. Maybe it can even be a virtual working lunch. Everyone is busy, whether or not they're a manager. I would also recommend sending some context / questions ahead of time so people can prepare. Then you can use your 1/2 hour more effectively.
Shanita Taylor BSIS, BSc (Psyc), M.A.E.LOctober 4,2021 at 1:12AM UTC
Congratulations. I suggest 30 mins.