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I had my REASA meeting just two weeks ago and wanted to add my experience to this amazing thread! Reading all these positive stories beforehand really helped calm my nerves. My meeting lasted about 40 minutes and the interviewer was genuinely supportive. She reviewed my CalJOBS work search activities with me, but spent most of our time discussing my career goals and potential training opportunities. What really stood out was when she noticed I had skills that could transfer to a related field with better job prospects - something I'd never considered! The most valuable outcome was getting connected to a local workforce development center that offers free certification programs. I'm actually starting a digital marketing course next month that they're fully funding, which could really open up new opportunities. A few things that helped me prepare: - I organized all my job search activities by date and industry focus - I prepared a brief elevator pitch about my background and what I'm looking for - I made a list of questions about local resources and training programs The biggest surprise was how collaborative it felt. Instead of feeling interrogated, it was more like having a career counseling session with someone who actually understood the current job market challenges. For anyone still feeling anxious - the fact that you're asking questions and preparing shows you're taking your job search seriously, which is exactly what they want to see. You've got this!
This is such a reassuring experience to hear about! I love how you mentioned the interviewer helped you see transferable skills for a different field - that kind of career guidance is invaluable and something I never would have expected from what I thought was just a compliance meeting. Getting connected to a fully funded certification program is incredible! That's exactly the kind of opportunity I was hoping might be available but wasn't sure how to find. Your tip about preparing an elevator pitch about your background is really smart - I can see how that would help the conversation flow more naturally and show you're serious about your career direction. The collaborative feeling you described really matches what everyone else is saying, and it's completely changed my expectations. I'm actually starting to feel excited about my upcoming meeting instead of dreading it. It sounds like this could be a real turning point in finding the right resources and direction for my job search. Thanks for sharing such a detailed and encouraging experience - it's giving me so much confidence going into this process!
I had my REASA meeting about a month ago and can totally relate to your initial panic! I was terrified after seeing that notification pop up in UI Online, but it ended up being much more helpful than scary. The interviewer was actually really professional and understanding. We went through my work search log in CalJOBS, but she was more interested in my overall strategy than nitpicking every detail. She asked about what types of positions I was targeting, any challenges I was facing, and what my long-term goals were. What really surprised me was how many resources they have available that I had no idea about! She connected me with a free resume workshop and told me about industry-specific networking events in my area. I walked away with a whole action plan and some really useful contacts. My biggest tip: make sure your CalJOBS profile is completely filled out and up-to-date before the meeting. They'll be looking at it with you, so having everything current makes a great impression. And don't stress too much about having perfect documentation - they understand that some weeks you might apply to fewer places if you're being strategic about quality applications. You're going to do great! The fact that you're asking questions and preparing ahead of time shows exactly the kind of proactive attitude they want to see.
Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been juggling part-time work and UI for about 6 months now. The key thing is being consistent with your reporting - always report work when you actually performed it, not when you get paid. I use a simple calendar or notes app to track my hours each day so I don't forget when certification time comes around. Also, don't stress too much about small differences between your estimated earnings and actual paycheck - EDD expects some variance and won't penalize you for reasonable estimates. The important thing is that you're being honest about working vs. not working on specific days. Keep all your pay stubs though, just in case they ever ask for documentation later!
This is really helpful advice! I just started my part-time job too and was wondering about keeping records. Do you recommend any specific apps for tracking hours, or is the basic phone notes app good enough? Also, when you say "reasonable estimates" - how close do the estimates need to be to your actual pay? Like if I estimate $120 but actually earn $115, is that okay?
@Carmen Lopez For tracking hours, I personally just use my phone s'built-in calendar app and add entries for each shift with the hours worked. Some people like dedicated time tracking apps like Toggl or Hours Tracker, but honestly the basic notes or calendar app works fine as long as you re'consistent about logging your hours right after each shift. As for estimates - a $5 difference like your example $120 (vs $115 is) totally reasonable! I ve'had differences of $10-15 and never had any issues. The key is that you re'in the right ballpark. What would cause problems is if you estimated $50 but actually earned $150, or if you said you didn t'work when you actually did. EDD understands that overtime, tips, or slightly different hours than scheduled can affect your final pay. Just keep those pay stubs like @Luca Russo mentioned - I scan mine with my phone and keep them in a folder just in case!
Great question and glad to see you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add one more tip for anyone else in this situation - when you're starting a new part-time job while on UI, it's really helpful to let your new employer know you're on unemployment benefits. Most employers understand this situation and some will even help by giving you a written confirmation of your start date, hours, and pay rate that you can reference when certifying. Also, if your work schedule varies week to week (which is common in retail), keep a simple log of your actual hours worked each day. I learned this the hard way when I couldn't remember if I worked 6 or 8 hours on a particular Tuesday three weeks later! The EDD certification questions are very specific about which days you worked during their certification period (Sunday through Saturday), so having that daily record makes certification much less stressful.
This is such great advice! I wish I had thought to ask my employer about getting something in writing about my schedule and pay rate. That would have saved me so much anxiety when I was trying to figure out what to put on my certification. The daily log idea is genius too - I've already started doing this after my first week because I was worried I'd forget details. Retail schedules can be so random! Thanks for sharing your experience, it's really helpful for newcomers like me who are still figuring out how to balance work and UI benefits.
Wow, what a journey this thread has been! As someone who's been lurking on this community for a while but never posted, I had to jump in after reading through all of this. I'm currently waiting for my own EDD eligibility interview to be scheduled, and honestly, I was dreading the whole process. But seeing how everyone came together to help @Luca Russo, and all the practical tips that came out of it (especially about checking the interview notice for specific numbers!) has made me feel so much more prepared. It's incredible how much valuable information gets shared when people actually help each other instead of just complaining. I'm definitely going to keep this thread bookmarked for reference. Thanks to everyone who contributed - you've probably helped way more people than you realize!
@Sofia Price I totally agree! This community is amazing. I just joined after going through my own EDD nightmare last month and wish I had found this place sooner. The tip about checking the interview notice for different numbers is pure gold - I spent hours calling the main line when there was probably a direct number right on my paperwork the whole time! It s'so reassuring to see that people actually do get their issues resolved with the right approach. Definitely keeping this thread saved too. Good luck with your upcoming interview!
This thread is exactly what I needed to read today! I'm scheduled for my own EDD phone interview next week and have been so anxious about the whole process. Seeing @Luca Russo successfully reschedule and all the amazing tips everyone shared (especially about checking the interview notice for specific numbers - who knew?!) has really eased my nerves. The advice about documenting everything and being prepared with all your paperwork is spot on too. It's so refreshing to find a community where people actually help each other navigate this confusing system instead of just venting. I'm bookmarking this thread for sure and will definitely pay it forward when I can help someone else. Thanks to everyone who contributed!
@Harold Oh You re'so welcome! I m'really glad this thread helped ease your anxiety about the interview process. One additional tip I d'add from my experience - make sure to test your phone connection beforehand if possible, and have a backup number ready just in case. During my rescheduled interview on Monday, the representative mentioned that sometimes they have trouble reaching people due to poor cell reception or phones going straight to voicemail. Having that peace of mind about your phone setup can help you focus on the actual interview questions. Best of luck with yours next week!
For anyone still following this thread or dealing with similar rescheduling issues, I wanted to add one more strategy that worked for me recently. If you're having trouble getting through on the main 1-800-300-5616 number, try calling your local EDD office directly. Many people don't know that each region has local offices with their own phone numbers, and sometimes these are less congested than the main line. You can find your local office number by searching "EDD office near me" on Google or checking the EDD website. When I called my local Fresno office, I got through in just 3 tries and they were able to reschedule my interview just as easily as if I'd called the main number. The rep even told me that local offices often have more availability for rescheduling because they serve a smaller area. Worth a shot if the main number isn't working for you!
This is such a brilliant tip about calling local EDD offices! I had no idea they could handle rescheduling too. I've been banging my head against the wall trying to get through on the main number for my own interview issue, and it never occurred to me that local offices might be an option. I'm definitely going to look up my local office number and try that approach. It makes total sense that they'd be less congested since most people probably don't even know this is possible. Thanks for sharing this - you might have just saved me hours of frustration! Did your local office have the same phone hours as the main line (8am-3pm)?
I'm a newcomer to this community but had to share my recent experience since this thread has been so helpful! I just went through this exact same panic situation last month - had an EDD interview scheduled during my kid's school emergency and couldn't figure out how to reschedule. After reading similar advice in other forums, I tried the early morning calling strategy (started at 7:58am) and used the button sequence several people mentioned here. It took me 31 calls over two days, but I finally got through! The rep was actually really understanding once I explained my situation, and they rescheduled me for just 2 days later. One thing I wish I'd known beforehand - they asked if I preferred morning or afternoon slots, so definitely think about your preferences before calling. Also, the rep mentioned that having a legitimate conflict (like medical appointments, family emergencies, work obligations) makes the rescheduling process much smoother than just wanting a more convenient time. This community is amazing for sharing real experiences with EDD's system. The persistence really does pay off, even though it's incredibly frustrating. Thanks to everyone who shares these strategies - it makes such a difference for people like me who are new to navigating this system!
Welcome to the community and thanks for sharing your experience! 31 calls over two days sounds exhausting but I'm so glad you finally got through. Your point about having your time preferences ready is really smart - I can see how that would speed up the process once you're actually connected. It's also reassuring to hear that the reps are understanding when you have legitimate conflicts. I'm bookmarking this thread because even though I don't have an interview scheduled right now, I know from reading everyone's experiences that this could happen to any of us at some point. The strategies shared here are like gold for dealing with EDD's system!
Andre Laurent
This thread is exactly what I needed to see! I'm brand new to unemployment benefits (just filed my first claim two weeks ago) and honestly had no idea the EDD system could have glitches this serious. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both educational and reassuring - it's scary that certifications can just vanish like that, but knowing that they usually do go through and just get stuck in the system makes me feel much better about the whole process. @3889e6ce151f thank you for being so thorough with your updates and showing us exactly how this gets resolved! I'm definitely going to follow all the advice here about taking screenshots, checking multiple sections of my account, and being persistent if I ever run into similar issues. This community is amazing - the way everyone jumped in to help with advice and share their own experiences really shows how supportive this group is. I feel so much more prepared to handle any EDD issues that might come up now!
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StarSeeker
•Welcome to the EDD world! I'm also relatively new to this system (about 4 months in) and this thread has been such an eye-opener. It's amazing how quickly you learn that what seems like a catastrophic error is often just another day with EDD's ancient technology! @3889e6ce151f really did an incredible job documenting this whole process - it's like having a step-by-step guide for when (not if) something goes wrong with your certification. The screenshot advice from @f3afee8a0bac is pure gold - I started doing that after my second certification and it's already saved me once when I had a minor glitch. It's both comforting and frustrating to realize how common these issues are, but at least we have this amazing community to help navigate through all the bureaucratic chaos!
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NebulaKnight
This thread is absolutely golden for anyone dealing with EDD! As someone who's been on unemployment for about 8 months now, I can confirm that these system glitches are unfortunately super common. I've had my certification "disappear" twice - once it resolved itself after 3 days, and another time I had to call EDD to get it manually processed like @3889e6ce151f did. A few additional tips from my experience: - Always certify early in the morning (like 6-8 AM) when fewer people are using the system - If you get that "no weeks to certify" error, try logging out completely, clearing your browser cache, and logging back in - Keep a record of your work search activities separately in case you need to re-enter them The EDD system is definitely frustrating, but posts like this prove that almost every issue can be resolved with enough persistence. Thanks @3889e6ce151f for documenting everything so thoroughly - this is going to help so many people!
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Luca Esposito
•These are fantastic additional tips! As someone who just started navigating the EDD system last month, I really appreciate the practical advice about timing certifications early in the morning - I had no idea that could make such a difference. The browser cache clearing tip is also something I never would have thought of but makes total sense given how glitchy their system seems to be. Your point about keeping separate records of work search activities is brilliant too - I've been lazy about that but after reading this whole thread, I'm definitely going to start being more organized about documentation. It's both reassuring and concerning to hear that these glitches happen so frequently, but knowing there are experienced community members like you sharing proven solutions makes me feel much more confident about handling any issues that come up. Thanks for adding to this incredibly helpful resource!
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