EDD work search requirements - what to report when businesses aren't accepting applications?

Yes, she should absolutely list those places on her work search record! I had this same problem last year. For each place, have her write down the company name, date she visited, who she spoke with (if possible), and specifically note "Not accepting applications at this time" in the results section. EDD understands not every contact results in an application. Other things that count toward work search: attending job fairs, creating profiles on job websites, updating her resume, networking with former coworkers, checking with her union if applicable. She needs to do at least 3 activities per week, so make sure she's diversifying beyond just checking with employers who aren't taking applications.

telll her to use indeed.com and linkedin and aplpy to atleast 3 jobs a week online. thats what my uncle did and never had a problem with his benifits. easier than driving around town getting rejected in person lol

The way EDD's work search requirements function is that they want to see reasonable and sustained effort, not necessarily results. Your mother-in-law should definitely document these contacts, including: - Name and address of business - Date contacted - Method of contact (in-person) - Name of person she spoke with (if possible) - Position inquired about - Result: "Not accepting applications currently" EDD only randomly audits work search records, and they're primarily looking for consistency and effort. They understand the job market fluctuates. For manufacturing workers specifically, I recommend she also check with any relevant unions, attend industry job fairs, and look into retraining programs, all of which count as work search activities. Make sure she keeps this information for at least 3 years in case of a future audit. Digital records or a dedicated notebook work well.

when i was on edd they never once asked to see my work search records even tho i kept them. i think they just randomly check a small % of people. as long as she's checking the box that she looked for work she should be fine honestly

Just so you know, for manufacturing workers specifically, EDD considers these valid work search activities: 1. Registering with her union hiring hall (if applicable) 2. Checking with previous employers about recalls 3. Checking with manufacturers in her industry 4. Applying for positions that use transferable skills 5. Taking courses to gain skills for in-demand manufacturing roles Since manufacturing has undergone significant changes, she should document any skills training or certification research as well. The main thing EDD cares about is that she's making a good-faith effort to find suitable work, not that she's getting applications accepted. If she gets flagged for an eligibility interview about work search, have her call EDD early morning (right at 8:00 am) to discuss her situation. The current wait time for interviews is running about 3-4 weeks, so it's better to be proactive.

I tried calling EDD for 2 WEEKS STRAIGHT with questions about the same issue!!! IMPOSSIBLE to get through!! ended up using Claimyr.com to reach an actual agent - they connected me in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The agent told me any "reasonable attempt" to find work counts - including places not accepting applications! Just document EVERYTHING detail - who she talked to, date, time, what position she was asking about.

To answer your follow-up question: EDD generally doesn't call employers to verify every work search contact. They typically only do this during eligibility interviews or random audits. I've been through two audits in the past and they selected specific weeks to verify. Out of dozens of contacts, they only called about 3-4 employers. What they're mainly checking is that you're being truthful and making consistent efforts. Having clear, detailed records protects your mother-in-law if she gets selected for verification. As long as she's making genuine attempts and documenting them properly, she should be fine even if employers aren't accepting applications right now.

im having the SAME EXACT ISSUE ugh!!! Im in healthcare and sooo many places have hiring freezes right now but still have jobs posted?? makes no sense!! i've been writing down when they tell me they're not accepting applications but i'm worried EDD is gonna think i'm not trying hard enough. did your mother in law ever get any payments flagged or has it been smooth sailing so far?

One more thing to add - if your mother-in-law is over 55, she may qualify for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) through the Department of Labor. This can count toward her work search activities and potentially lead to placement. Many former manufacturing workers find this program helpful during transition periods. Also, all CA WorkForce centers offer free workshops on resume writing, interview skills, and job search strategies. Attending these workshops counts as work search activities. They can be especially helpful for people returning to the job market after long-term employment at a single company.

I work at a local One-Stop Career Center and want to emphasize that your mother-in-law is doing everything right! We see this situation constantly - especially with manufacturing workers who've been at the same company for years. A few additional resources that might help: - CalJOBS.ca.gov is the state's official job board and creating/updating profiles there counts as work search activity - Many libraries offer free computer classes specifically for job seekers - perfect if she needs help with online applications - Labor unions often have job referral services even for non-members, especially in manufacturing The key thing EDD looks for is "suitable work" - meaning jobs that match her skills and pay at least 75% of her previous wage initially. After a certain period, that percentage requirement drops. So she doesn't need to apply for just any job, but rather positions that make sense for her background. Keep encouraging her to document EVERYTHING. Even a 5-minute conversation with a receptionist who says "we're not hiring" is a legitimate work search contact. The economy is tough right now and EDD knows it - they're much more understanding than people think as long as you're making genuine efforts.

Just wanted to add that if your mother-in-law is having trouble with online applications, many public libraries in California now offer "Digital Navigator" programs specifically designed to help older adults and people new to technology with job searching. They'll sit with her one-on-one to help create accounts on job sites, fill out applications, and even practice video interviews. Also, since she worked in manufacturing for so long, she might want to look into whether her former employer offers any kind of "alumni network" or referral program for laid-off workers. Some larger manufacturers maintain databases of former employees and will reach out when positions open up at partner companies. It's worth asking HR if they have anything like this - and that inquiry would definitely count as a work search activity! The most important thing is that she's staying consistent with her efforts and documentation. From everything you've described, she's doing exactly what EDD expects from someone in her situation.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what helped my sister when she was in a similar situation last year. She kept getting discouraged by the "not accepting applications" responses, but her case worker at the local America's Job Center told her something really helpful: EDD actually prefers to see job seekers exploring multiple avenues rather than just focusing on one type of search. What worked for her was creating a weekly routine: Mondays for online job board searches, Wednesdays for in-person visits to businesses, and Fridays for networking activities (calling former coworkers, attending virtual industry meetups, etc.). This way she always had 3+ activities per week even when businesses weren't accepting applications. One thing that really helped was documenting not just the "no" responses, but also any information she gathered during those visits - like "Company mentioned they expect to start hiring again in spring" or "Receptionist suggested checking back in 60 days." EDD sees this as valuable job market intelligence, not just a dead end. Your mother-in-law sounds like she's doing everything right! The fact that she's been consistent for 6 weeks with no payment issues is a great sign. Keep encouraging her to document those conversations - they absolutely count as legitimate work search activities.

I'm going through something very similar with my dad who got laid off from his warehouse job after 12 years. He's 61 and keeps getting discouraged when places say they're "not hiring right now" but I've been telling him to write it all down anyway. What's really helped us is I created a simple spreadsheet on Google Sheets that we can both access. It has columns for date, company name, contact person, method (in-person/phone/online), position inquired about, and result. This way I can help him keep track remotely and he doesn't have to worry about losing a paper notebook. One thing I learned from calling EDD (after being on hold for literally 3 hours) is that they consider "job market research" as a valid work search activity too. So when your mother-in-law visits a place and they tell her they're not accepting applications but maybe mention when they might start hiring again, that's actually valuable market research that counts toward her requirements. The hardest part is keeping morale up when you keep hearing "no" but it sounds like your mother-in-law is doing everything exactly right. The fact that she's had no payment issues for 6 weeks is proof that EDD recognizes her genuine efforts even when businesses aren't cooperating.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! I was laid off from my retail management position in February and so many stores are telling me they have a "hiring freeze" even though they still have job postings up online. It's incredibly frustrating but I've been documenting every single interaction. What I've learned is that EDD really does understand the current job market challenges. I keep a small notebook with me and write down: company name, date, time, who I spoke with, what they told me, and any additional info (like "will resume hiring in Q2" or "check back in May"). Even those brief conversations with managers who say "we're fully staffed right now" absolutely count as legitimate work search contacts. One thing that's helped my confidence is mixing online applications with in-person visits. Some days I'll apply to 3-4 jobs on Indeed or LinkedIn, other days I'll visit businesses in person. This way I always have a good mix of activities to report, even when half the places aren't taking applications. Your mother-in-law is definitely doing the right thing by continuing to visit businesses and document everything. The fact that she hasn't had any payment delays or flags after 6 weeks shows EDD recognizes her genuine efforts. Keep encouraging her - this job market is tough for everyone but persistence pays off!

I'm a newcomer to this community but wanted to share what helped me when I was in a similar situation last year. I was laid off from my logistics coordinator position after 8 years and faced the same "not accepting applications" responses everywhere I went. What really saved me was learning that EDD considers ANY legitimate job search effort as valid, even if it doesn't result in an application. I started documenting absolutely everything: the receptionist who told me to "try back in a few months," the manager who explained their hiring freeze, even the security guard who gave me directions to the HR office that turned out to be closed. One tip that really helped - I started asking follow-up questions during these visits, like "When do you expect to start hiring again?" or "What types of positions do you typically have available?" This turns a simple "we're not hiring" into actual job market intelligence that shows EDD you're gathering information about your industry and potential opportunities. Your mother-in-law sounds like she's doing everything exactly right! The fact that she's had no payment issues for 6 weeks proves EDD recognizes legitimate effort even in this tough market. Keep encouraging her to document those conversations - they're absolutely valid work search activities and show she's actively engaged in finding employment despite the challenging circumstances.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help your mother-in-law stay motivated during this challenging job search. I went through a similar situation after being laid off from my administrative position last year, and what really helped was reframing those "not accepting applications" visits as successful networking activities rather than rejections. Here's what I learned: every conversation, no matter how brief, is building her professional network and industry knowledge. The receptionist who says "we're not hiring" might remember her face when they do start hiring. The manager who explains their hiring freeze is giving her insight into industry trends that could inform her search strategy. I started keeping what I called a "connection log" alongside my regular work search records. For each visit, I'd note not just the basic details for EDD, but also things like the company culture I observed, any insights about the industry, or even just the name of the person I spoke with. This helped me feel like I was building something valuable even when I wasn't getting applications submitted. Your mother-in-law's persistence after 17 years at the same company shows incredible resilience. The manufacturing sector is going through major changes right now, but her experience and work ethic are valuable assets. Keep encouraging her to document everything - EDD absolutely recognizes genuine effort even when the job market isn't cooperating!

I'm new to this community and going through something very similar with my aunt who was laid off from her packaging job after 15 years. She's been so discouraged by all the "we're not accepting applications" responses that she was starting to think she was doing something wrong with her job search. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea that documenting those "not hiring" conversations was not only acceptable but actually what EDD expects to see. My aunt has been keeping basic notes but not nearly as detailed as what everyone here is suggesting. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had experience with EDD accepting volunteer work or community service as part of work search activities? My aunt has been volunteering at a local food bank on weekends and I'm wondering if that demonstrates her work ethic and community engagement in a way that might count toward her requirements. Also, for those who mentioned the 3 activities per week requirement - is that 3 separate job search contacts, or can things like updating her resume, attending a workshop, and making 1 employer contact count as meeting the weekly requirement? Thank you all for sharing such detailed and encouraging advice. This thread has given us both so much more confidence about her approach to documenting her job search efforts!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience as someone who recently went through EDD's work search requirements after a layoff. Your mother-in-law is absolutely doing the right thing by documenting those "not accepting applications" visits! I was laid off from my retail job last fall and encountered the same frustrating situation - so many businesses had job postings online but weren't actually processing applications when I showed up in person. What I learned from talking to an EDD representative is that they specifically look for "good faith efforts" rather than successful applications. Here's what has worked well for me: I keep a detailed log with the date, business name, address, person I spoke with (even if just "front desk staff"), and their exact response. When someone says "we're not taking applications," I also note any additional information like "expecting to resume hiring in spring" or "applications currently on hold due to staffing changes." One thing that really helped my confidence was learning that EDD actually prefers seeing diverse job search activities. So mixing those in-person visits with online applications, checking company websites directly, and even reaching out to former colleagues all counts toward the weekly requirements. The manufacturing sector has been hit particularly hard lately, but your mother-in-law's 17 years of experience is valuable. Keep encouraging her to document everything - those conversations where businesses explain they're not hiring actually demonstrate she's actively engaging with the job market despite challenging conditions!

I'm new to this community but currently dealing with a very similar situation! I was laid off from my assembly line job in February after 9 years and have been running into the same "not accepting applications" responses everywhere. Reading through this entire thread has been so reassuring - I had no idea that documenting these conversations was not only okay but actually what EDD expects to see. What's really helped me is what some others mentioned about asking follow-up questions when businesses say they're not hiring. Instead of just walking away defeated, I now ask things like "When do you typically do your hiring?" or "What positions do you usually have available?" This has led to some really useful conversations and makes me feel like I'm gathering actual market intelligence rather than just collecting rejections. I've also started mixing my approach more - some days I focus on online applications, other days I do in-person visits, and I always try to include at least one networking activity per week (calling former coworkers, checking with my old supervisor about industry contacts, etc.). This variety has made my work search feel more productive even when individual employers aren't accepting applications. Your mother-in-law sounds like she's handling this exactly right! The fact that she's had no payment issues for 6 weeks is proof that EDD recognizes genuine effort. This job market is brutal right now but her persistence and detailed documentation are going to pay off. Keep encouraging her - we're all navigating this tough situation together!