How does NYS Department of Labor unemployment know if you applied for a job - what info do they track?
I've been filing my weekly claims for about 6 weeks now and I keep wondering exactly what information NYS Department of Labor can actually see about my job applications. Like when I certify that I've been looking for work, how do they verify that? Do they call employers to check? Can they see if I applied online through job sites like Indeed or LinkedIn? I've been keeping a log of everywhere I apply but I'm paranoid they might think I'm not doing enough or that I'm lying somehow. What exactly can they track and what should I be documenting to stay safe?
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Oliver Schulz
NYS Department of Labor primarily relies on your work search log and random audits rather than real-time tracking. They can request your job search records during eligibility reviews, so keep detailed documentation of each application including company name, position, date applied, and method of application. They may contact employers during investigations, but this typically only happens if there's a specific reason to verify your claims.
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Amina Diallo
•That's helpful - so they don't automatically know every time I apply somewhere? I was worried they had some system that tracks online applications.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
i think they just randomly check people sometimes... my friend got audited last year and had to send in like 3 months of job search logs with proof
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AstroAdventurer
•What kind of proof did they want? Screenshots of applications or just the log?
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•she had to send confirmation emails from job sites and cover letters she sent. took forever to gather everything
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Javier Mendoza
Keep everything documented! Save confirmation emails, take screenshots of online applications, and maintain a detailed spreadsheet. If you're having trouble reaching enough employers due to your field or location, there's actually a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people get through to NYS Department of Labor agents when you need clarification on work search requirements. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Much easier than trying to call yourself and getting disconnected.
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Amina Diallo
•Never heard of that service before but might be worth looking into if I need to talk to someone about my specific situation.
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Emma Wilson
They don't have access to private job board databases or anything like that. The system relies heavily on the honor system with spot checks. Just make sure you're meeting the minimum weekly requirements and can prove it if asked.
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Malik Davis
The whole system is ridiculous honestly. They expect you to apply to jobs you're overqualified for just to meet quotas, then employers get annoyed with fake applications. Meanwhile actually finding work in your field takes real networking and targeted applications that might not happen every single week.
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Isabella Santos
•I feel this so much! The three job contacts per week thing doesn't match how professional job searching actually works.
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Sofia Torres
From what I understand, NYS DOL doesn't have real-time access to your online job applications through sites like Indeed or LinkedIn. They mainly verify through documentation requests during audits and may contact employers if there's a specific concern. The key is keeping thorough records - I save confirmation emails, note the job posting URLs, and track follow-up activities. Also worth noting that quality matters more than quantity - they'd rather see targeted applications to relevant positions than random applications just to meet the minimum requirement. The work search log they provide is actually pretty comprehensive for tracking everything you need.
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Sofia Ramirez
•This is really reassuring to hear! I've been overthinking this whole process. The idea that quality matters more than quantity makes a lot of sense - I'd rather spend time on applications that actually match my skills than just throwing applications everywhere. Do you happen to know if they care about things like informational interviews or networking events, or does it have to be formal job applications?
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