The Request Availability feature in Guide simplifies the interview scheduling process by saving recruiters and recruiting coordinators the hassle of navigating between multiple calendars and screens when coordinating interviews.

Ask a candidate to provide you with times they are available to meet by using the Request availability block in any message or message template. When writing a new message, replying to a message, or editing a message template, follow any of the following three options to request availability from a candidate:

Option 1. Quick action toolbar. Above the message editor is a row of buttons that enable one-click access to everyday actions. Find and click Request availability.

Option 2. Message toolbar. At the bottom of the editor is a fixed toolbar of options that allow you to format and build your message. Locate and click the option with the + symbol, and the block insertion menu will appear. From here, locate and click Request availability.

Option 3. Slash command. The Guide Messenger supports keyboard shortcuts. The handiest is the slash command. Type / on any line, and the block insertion menu will appear. From here, locate and click the Request availability.

After you select the option to add a request availability block following one of the steps above, you will be directed to a new screen. From here, you will be prompted to provide some basic details about the interview or meeting and suggested windows of time within which your candidate will be asked to provide their availability. Follow these steps to create an availability request:

Update the title, description, and meeting length. This is an excellent opportunity to share context about the interview with your candidate.

You should see a list of calendars along the right side of the window. Check the box next to a calendar name to overlay meetings and other events on the large calendar in the middle of the window.

What calendars will appear in the list of available calendars?

In the middle of the window is a large calendar. Use the toolbar along the top to navigate between weeks and to change the timezone. When ready, click and drag on the screen to draw windows of time. These timeslots will be shared with the candidate when you request that they provide their availability. Once you’ve had a chance to review everything, hit the “Continue” button in the bottom right-hand corner of the window.

A request for availability is embedded in and shared as a message. In the message editor, you will see a request availability block. Your candidate will see this in the message you send them. Craft whatever message you like below or above the request availability block from here. When ready, hit the “Send message” button. Your candidate will receive an email with your message and a prompt to provide their availability. Curious about what they will see? Check out: Respond to a request for availability

When you are viewing the conversation in Guide, you will see your original request (often the first message in the thread). The message and the request will appear exactly as they did when you first composed and sent the message. However, the availability request block will update over time to reflect the request status. Below are the possible availability request states and how to interpret each:

Sometimes schedules change, and you need to update the times you've suggested to a candidate. To do so, reply to the same conversation thread with a new availability request.

Once a candidate shares their availability, you will receive an email notifying you of the response. In addition to the email notification, the response from the candidate will also be added to the conversation thread in the candidate’s guide (often as the latest message). Navigate to the response, and you will find the candidate’s available times and any message they may have written.

You can take the necessary steps to coordinate and schedule the interview from here. See: Use a candidate's availability when scheduling an interview