The answer to this question is variable. It is very rarely the same from spirit to spirit. It all depends on the extent of the particular spirits development prior to this material life.
To explain a bit more you need to be able to understand that we are all spirit, and all of us come from the spirit world, which is our home. Just like on this material plane, some are more highly developed than others.
You are born into this earthly life as you leave the spirit world in your search for your purpose. The purpose being to evolve into as high a spiritual being as possible. You may not be able to achieve all you want in this life but will carry on your evolvement when you get back home to spirit.
As you die and take your transition to the higher side of life, you are born once more back home in the Spirit world. Your search continues for the truth and for spiritual evolvement.
Having said all this, it means that some will be highly developed in psychic work, and will therefore be able to communicate with loved ones back here on earth pretty soon after taking their transition.
Others will not be psychically aware and therefore it will take them a lot longer to communicate. They may have to communicate via another spirit. This often happens when a spirit will bring along another and pass the information along.
You may go for a private reading as soon as you feel the need. Just don’t sit and plead for the one person to come through or you may be disappointed. Go with an open mind and see what happens. If you are inspired to go for a reading it may be because your loved on is inspiring you.
Enjoy your search!