Scheduling: Manual vs Automated Scheduling Overview
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Approximate read time: 5 minutes
When you schedule interviews in candidate.fyi, you can let the system suggest times that work for everyone, or pick a time yourself. Both paths end the same way: you review the details and book the interview.
This guide explains the difference, where each option appears, and when to use one over the other.
Quick comparison
Automated (suggested times) | Manual scheduling |
|---|---|
candidate.fyi finds times when interviewers are free and match candidate availability | You choose the date and time yourself |
Best when you want the fastest match or are scheduling multiple interviews at once | Best when suggested times do not work, you need a specific time, or interviewers are not set up for suggestions |
You pick from Suggested Slots or Suggested Schedules | You click or drag on the calendar, or use Select Time Directly in the Chrome extension |
Where scheduling happens
Most coordinator scheduling happens on the Schedule page for a scheduling request. Open a scheduling request, then click the calendar icon on an interview (labeled Schedule Interview or Reschedule Interview).
You can also schedule from the Chrome extension using Schedule Now.
Automated scheduling: suggested times
Automated scheduling means candidate.fyi searches interviewer calendars and candidate availability, then shows ready-to-use options. You still choose which option to use — the system does the searching for you.
Suggested Slots (one interview at a time)
On the Schedule page, look at the right-hand panel. Under Suggested Slots, you will see time options for the interview you have selected.
Each slot shows the proposed time, interviewers, and other details. Click a slot to select it for that interview.
Use the filters above the list to narrow results:
Start on or Schedule For — pick which day to search
Morning / Afternoon — limit to part of the day (Individual mode)
The filter icon next to Suggested Slots — adjust search settings such as time interval
If no slots appear, the panel shows No slots suggestions available. Try a different day, adjust interview configuration, or switch to manual scheduling. See the related article on how suggested slots are gathered for common reasons slots may not appear.
Suggested Schedules (multiple interviews)
When a scheduling request has more than one interview, you will see a Suggestions toggle with two options:
Schedules — full multi-interview schedule recommendations (Suggested Schedules)
Individual — suggested times for one interview at a time (Suggested Slots)
Suggested Schedules is useful when you need all interviews in a round to fit together — for example, back-to-back panel interviews on the same day.
Manual scheduling: pick the time yourself
Manual scheduling is for when you already know the time you want, or when suggested times are not available.
On the Schedule page calendar
Click an open time on the calendar, or click and drag to select a time range. A Manual Schedule window opens showing:
Selected Time
Interviewers (when required for the interview)
Booking rooms (when room booking is enabled)
Adjust interviewers or rooms if needed, then click Select. Click Cancel to close without saving.
After selecting a time, the interview appears in the interview list on the right. You can drag an already-selected time block on the calendar to move it.
From the Chrome extension (Schedule Now)
In the extension's Schedule Now flow, suggested slots appear for each interview. If those do not work, click Select Time Directly.
Enter:
Date
Start and End times
Interviewers (when the round requires them)
Trainees or Calendar Rooms (when enabled for the round)
Click Select to save your choice for that interview.
Finishing either way: Review & Book
Whether you used suggested times or manual scheduling, the final steps are the same:
Select each interview in the list on the right and confirm its time is set.
Click Review & Book at the bottom of the panel.
Review calendar invites and details in the review window, then confirm to book.
Use the gear icon (Edit Round Settings) to adjust request settings such as buffer time, calendar invites, or automation options. Use the clock icon (View Availability) to see what availability the candidate has submitted.
Related: when the candidate schedules (self-scheduling)
Some scheduling requests use Self Booking instead of Availability. In those cases, the candidate picks their own interview time from options in the candidate portal — you do not use the Schedule page to pick a time unless you need to reschedule.
Request settings show the scheduling type under General > Scheduling type. Self-scheduling must be enabled when the request is created; it cannot be switched later.
Which should I use?
Start with suggested times when interviewers are configured and you want the quickest match.
Use manual scheduling when you need a specific time, the hiring manager requested a particular slot, or no suggestions appear.
Use Suggested Schedules when scheduling multiple interviews that need to fit together on the same day.
Let the candidate self-schedule when the request is set up for Self Booking and you do not need to pick the time yourself.