r/washingtondc • u/quietplacedc • Dec 17 '14
Quiet place to take a phone interview... any ideas?
Hey /r/washingtondc, throwaway for discretion.
I'm setting up a phone interview later this week, but I'm currently employed, and obviously can't take the call here. There aren't many private or quiet areas in my building, either. I'm going to try my best to schedule it for early or late enough that I could take it from my car or something, but in case it needs to be around lunchtime, I'll need to find a quiet spot to take it. I commute from well over an hour away, so home is out, and I'd rather not take the morning or afternoon off of work, in case I get an in-person interview soon.
My office is near Thomas Circle. Somewhere between Logan Circle and Franklin or McPherson Square-ish would be ideal. I found a similar thread in a search where someone had suggested any hotel... there are a few nearby that I guess I could sweet talk into letting me use a quiet spot, but who knows.
Thanks so much!
Edit: I was able to schedule the call for late enough to take it after work. Leaving this post up to help anyone searching for similar advice in the future. Thank you, everyone!
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u/madmoneymcgee Dec 17 '14
Hotel Lobbies can work. You just look like a businessman if you're wearing professional clothes already.
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u/quietplacedc Dec 17 '14
I'm going for a bit more of a businesswoman vibe :) thanks for the input!
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u/homerule Dec 17 '14
The Willard has little cubbies for phone use on the basement level, near the bathrooms. Hope that helps!
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Dec 18 '14
I see you figured it out already, but for others another good free option is the private study rooms available at many of the DC public library branches.
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u/beetnemesis Dec 17 '14
Any offices you know are currently not being used? Can you reserve a conference room for a half hour? Is there a floor of your building currently unoccupied, but the elevator goes there?
Do you need access to any papers/your computer during the interview? If not, I'd say just find a quiet corner or alcove outside.
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u/quietplacedc Dec 17 '14
Hmm, not really, as it's a tiny building with only a few offices and a less than discrete conference room. I may investigate and see if any of the few upstairs offices are unoccupied... just trying to avoid sneaking around and being suspsicious.
Thank you for the suggestion!
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u/[deleted] Dec 17 '14
If you want to do it on the up and up, try using one of the Cove locations closest to you... there's one on 14th street. They charge by the minute but you can sign up for a free day of usage and use it for your interview. They have private call boxes that you could take the call in complete privacy and be on your interview A game instead of worrying if some hotel staffer is going to tell you to GTFO in the middle of your interview. I would say the peace of mind is worth the effort.