100 Monologues is a project where I’m writing monologue scripts, performing, and filming the pieces. Since I’m beginning to dabble in acting, the project is meant as a means for me to acquire more acting experience where I can work on refining my craft. You can find out more about the project here.

Below is the script from the “It’s not easy finding work” monologue. If you’re a student who would like to perform this monologue for class, just make sure you credit me, Maggie Coyle, as the author. For any other use of the script, please contact me.

100 Monologues: #26 It’s not easy finding work

Yeah, it’s soul crushing – you know, looking for work. Job interviews and the never-ending copies of resumes and cover letters. The fake smiles and fake enthusiasm. The showmanship. The conversational tap-dancing. The pretending that you want a job even though it’s below you. It gets embarrassing.

One time I went to an interview where the minute the interviewer met me, I could tell she instantly didn’t like me. She dismissed me as a person. And then I proceeded to sit through an entire thing, just fake smiling and trying to be likeable. It was a disaster. I just ended up being an awkward mess. I would have been better off if after I shook her hand and introduced myself, I had just said, “You know what? This isn’t going to work. You clearly don’t like me, so let’s not waste each other’s time.”

Instead it was fake conversational tap dancing. And then a week later, a rejection email. What a waste of time…