The 30 min interview for people with busy calendars

Founder takeaway

For critical hires with limited availability, design a focused 30-minute interview around the few questions that can most change your hiring decision, rather than trying to cover everything.

Why it matters

A constrained interview forces sharper judgment, respects candidates’ calendars, and keeps low-value conversation from obscuring the evidence needed for an important hire.

Relevant guides

Put it to work

Before the interview, write down the three uncertainties that would prevent you from hiring this person. Use the conversation only to test those uncertainties.