Can I use Indeed for unemployment work search requirements in NY?
I'm filing my weekly claims with NYS Department of Labor and need to do my job search activities. Can I count applying to jobs on Indeed toward my work search requirements? I've been using their easy apply feature but wasn't sure if that counts as a valid job contact for unemployment purposes. Do I need to keep records of the Indeed applications or is there something specific I should be documenting?
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Ezra Beard
Yes, Indeed applications absolutely count for your NYS Department of Labor work search requirements! You need to keep records though - save the job posting details, company name, position title, and date you applied. The easy apply feature is fine as long as you're actually submitting applications to real job openings.
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Tobias Lancaster
•Thank you! Should I be printing out confirmations or is keeping notes in a spreadsheet enough?
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Statiia Aarssizan
I use Indeed all the time for my weekly claims. Just make sure you're applying to jobs that match your skills and previous work experience. NYS Department of Labor wants to see you're making genuine efforts to find work, not just clicking apply on random jobs.
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Reginald Blackwell
•this is good advice - they can ask for details about your job search during a review
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Aria Khan
Wait I thought you had to apply directly on company websites? I've been avoiding Indeed because I wasn't sure if it counted...
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Ezra Beard
•No, job search activities can include applications through job boards like Indeed, Monster, LinkedIn, etc. As long as you're actually applying for real positions and keeping proper records, you're good.
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Everett Tutum
I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to clarify my work search questions last month. Kept getting busy signals and the online chat was always full. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. The agent confirmed that Indeed applications count as long as you document them properly.
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Tobias Lancaster
•Interesting, might check that out if I need to call them. The phone lines are impossible!
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Sunny Wang
Been using indeed for months for my job search log, never had any issues with NYS Department of Labor accepting it
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Isabella Oliveira
I keep a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, company name, job title, where I applied (Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.), and any notes. Haven't had any issues with DOL when they've reviewed my records. The key is being consistent and showing you're actively searching. Screenshot confirmations when you can, but detailed notes should be sufficient for most cases.
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StarSurfer
•This is really helpful! I'm new to filing for unemployment and wasn't sure about the documentation requirements. Do you include the job posting URL in your spreadsheet too, or just the basic details you mentioned? I want to make sure I'm covering all my bases in case they ask for more information during a review.
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Brianna Schmidt
•I include the URL when I can, but honestly those Indeed URLs can be really long and sometimes the postings get removed after a while. I focus more on having solid details like company name, exact job title, date applied, and a brief description of the role. If you're worried about documentation, you could always take a screenshot of the job posting when you apply - that way you have the full details even if the link goes dead later.
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Kaiya Rivera
Just want to add that you should also keep track of how many work search activities you're doing per week - NYS requires a minimum number depending on your situation. I learned this the hard way when I got selected for a review and realized I was only doing 2 activities some weeks when I needed 3. Indeed applications definitely count, but make sure you're meeting the weekly minimum requirement. You can also mix it up with networking events, job fairs, or contacting employers directly to reach your quota.
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Grant Vikers
•Great point about the weekly minimums! I didn't realize there were different requirements depending on your situation. Is there an easy way to find out exactly how many work search activities I need to do per week? I want to make sure I'm not falling short like you did. Also, when you mention networking events and job fairs, do those count as separate activities even if I don't apply to specific jobs at them?
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•@69130aba881c You can find your specific work search requirements in your unemployment determination letter or by logging into your NY.gov account. Most people need 3 activities per week, but it can vary. And yes, networking events and job fairs definitely count as separate activities! You just need to document what you did - like "attended XYZ job fair, spoke with 5 employers" or "attended networking event at local library." The key is showing you're actively looking for work in multiple ways, not just clicking apply buttons.
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Olivia Martinez
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I just wanted to add that I've found it useful to create folders in my email to automatically save Indeed application confirmations. Most of the time Indeed sends you a confirmation email when you apply, so I set up a filter to move those to a "Job Applications" folder. That way I have timestamped proof of my applications without having to manually screenshot everything. Plus, if the job posting gets taken down, I still have the company name and position details from the confirmation email. Has anyone else found good ways to automate their record keeping?
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Alina Rosenthal
•That's a brilliant idea about setting up email filters! I never thought of automating it that way. I've been manually saving screenshots and it's been such a pain. Do you happen to know if the confirmation emails from Indeed include enough detail to satisfy the DOL requirements, or do you still need to supplement with additional notes? I'm thinking the confirmation might not always have the full job description or salary range that could be useful to document.
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Omar Fawzi
•@c9805b824a32 The Indeed confirmation emails usually have the basic details like company name, job title, and date, which covers most of what DOL wants to see. But you're right that they don't always include salary or full job descriptions. I typically just add a quick note in my spreadsheet about the role type (like "remote customer service" or "warehouse supervisor") to give more context. The confirmation emails are great as backup documentation, but I still keep my main tracking in a simple spreadsheet since it's easier to review everything at once when filing my weekly claims.
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Gael Robinson
I've been using Indeed for my unemployment work search for about 6 months now and it's definitely accepted by NYS DOL. One thing I'd recommend is being selective about which jobs you apply to - don't just mass apply to everything. I focus on positions that actually match my experience and skills, and I make sure to customize my applications when possible rather than just using the one-click apply for everything. This way if they ever audit your job search activities, you can show you were being thoughtful and strategic about your applications, not just going through the motions.
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