How long does it take to hear from NYS Department of Labor unemployment after you apply?

Thanks! Do I need to be looking for work during this waiting period or does that start after approval?

Wait I thought the job search requirement was only 2 contacts per week? Or did they change it recently?

It's 3 work search activities per week. This includes applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or interviewing. You need to keep detailed records with dates, employer names, and what type of activity it was.

That sounds too good to be true honestly. How much does something like that cost?

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. The main thing is it saves you from sitting on hold for hours. When you really need to talk to someone about your claim, it's worth it.

Good point, I'll start checking more frequently. I only put in my last employer - should I have included all my jobs from the past year?

Yes, you should include all employers from the past 18 months, not just your most recent one. NYS DOL uses this to calculate your benefit amount based on your earnings history. If you only included your last job, that might be why it's taking longer - they may need to request additional wage information from other employers. You might want to log back into your account and see if you can update your work history or if they've sent any requests for more documentation.

Thanks for the tip about calling at 8am @Aria Washington! That's really smart timing advice. I'm definitely going to start that job search spreadsheet today - better to be over-prepared than scrambling later. Quick question though - when you say "how I contacted them" do you need to be specific like "applied through company website" vs just "online application"? I want to make sure I'm tracking the right level of detail for when I have to certify those weekly claims.

@Dylan Campbell I keep pretty detailed records - I write things like applied "through Indeed.com or" submitted "application via company website career page or" called "directly and spoke with HR manager Sarah. The" more specific you can be, the better, especially if they ever audit your job search activities. I also include the job title and a brief note about the position. For example: Applied "for Marketing Coordinator position at ABC Company through LinkedIn - submitted resume and cover letter. It" only takes an extra few seconds to add those details but it shows you re'taking the requirement seriously and gives you better documentation if questions come up later.

@Dylan Campbell you want to be pretty specific in your tracking! I include details like applied "through Indeed.com ,"submitted "application on company website ,"called "HR department directly ,"or attended "XYZ Company virtual job fair ."The more specific you are, the better - especially if they ever audit your work search activities. I also include the job title and a brief note about the position. NYS DOL can ask for verification of any work search activity you claim, so having detailed records protects you. Better to over-document than under-document!

@Dylan Campbell I d'recommend being fairly specific in your job search log. Instead of just online "application, I" write things like applied "via company website, submitted" "resume through Indeed, or" applied "directly through LinkedIn. The" DOL wants to see that you re'making genuine efforts to find work, so showing different methods and being specific helps demonstrate that. I also include the job title and a brief note about the position. For example: 3/15/24 "- ABC Company - Marketing Coordinator - applied via company careers page. It" only takes an extra few seconds to write but gives you solid documentation when you re'certifying your weekly claims.

@Dylan Campbell I d'recommend being pretty specific in your tracking! I write things like applied "through company website via careers page, submitted" "resume via Indeed, called" "HR department directly, or" attended "virtual job fair and spoke with 3 employers. The" more detail the better because if your claim ever gets audited, they want to see that you made genuine efforts to find work. NYS DOL can be picky about this stuff, so I always err on the side of over-documenting. Also make sure to save any confirmation emails or screenshots from job applications - I keep a folder on my computer just for unemployment documentation.

@Dylan Campbell Yes, you definitely want to be specific about the method of contact! I include details like applied "through company website, submitted" "resume via Indeed, called" "HR department directly, or" attended "virtual job fair and spoke with recruiter. The" more specific you are, the better. NYS DOL can ask for verification of your job search activities during audits, so having detailed records protects you. I also include the job title and a brief note about the position when possible. It might seem like overkill now, but trust me - when you re'certifying benefits every week and they ask for those details, you ll'be glad you tracked everything thoroughly from the start!

@Dylan Campbell You should definitely be specific about the contact method! I include details like applied "through company website via online portal, submitted" "resume via email to HR, or" applied "through Indeed job posting. The" DOL can ask for verification of your job search activities, so having specific details makes it much easier if they ever audit your claims. I also include the job title and company name for each entry. Better to have too much detail than not enough when it comes to unemployment documentation!

@Dylan Campbell I d'recommend being as specific as possible in your job search log! Instead of just online "application, note" things like applied "through company website, submitted" "resume via LinkedIn, applied" "through Indeed, or" emailed "hiring manager directly. The" more detail you have, the better - it shows you re'taking the process seriously and makes it easier to answer any questions if your claim gets reviewed. I also include the job title and a brief note about the position requirements. It might seem like overkill now, but when you re'filling out those weekly certifications quickly, you ll'be glad to have all the details already written down!

@Dylan Campbell Yes, you should be fairly specific about the contact method! I include details like applied "through company website, submitted" "resume via Indeed, contacted" "hiring manager directly via LinkedIn, or" applied "in person. The" more specific you are, the better - it shows you re'making genuine efforts and helps if they ever audit your job search activities. Also make sure to note the specific position title you applied for, not just the company name. NYS DOL can be pretty strict about this stuff, so it s'better to over-document than under-document!

@Dylan Campbell I d'be pretty detailed in your tracking - applied "through company website, submitted" "resume via Indeed, called" "hiring manager directly, etc." The more specific you are, the better. When you certify your weekly claims, they sometimes ask for details about your job search activities, and having that information readily available makes the process smoother. I learned this the hard way when I had to dig through my browser history trying to remember exactly how I applied to different places! Also, don t'forget to include the job title and company contact info if you have it - some people get selected for audits where they verify your job search activities.

@Dylan Campbell I d'recommend being specific about the method - like applied "through company website, submitted" "resume via Indeed, contacted" "hiring manager directly via LinkedIn, etc." The more detailed your records, the better, especially if you ever get audited or need to prove your job search activities. I also include the job title and a brief note about any follow-up actions. It might seem like overkill now, but trust me, when you re'filling out those weekly certifications and trying to remember what you did two weeks ago, you ll'be grateful for the detailed notes!

@Dylan Campbell You should definitely be specific about the contact method! I include details like applied "through Indeed.com, submitted" "application on company website, called" "HR department directly, or" attended "virtual job fair - spoke with recruiter from XYZ Corp. The" more specific you are, the better. NYS DOL can audit your work search activities, and having detailed records shows you re'genuinely looking for work. I also include the job title and a brief note about any follow-up actions I took. It might seem like overkill now, but when you re'filling out those weekly certifications, you ll'be glad you have all the details written down!

@Dylan Campbell I ve'been tracking mine pretty detailed and it s'definitely worth being specific. I write things like applied "through Indeed.com for Marketing Coordinator position or" submitted "resume via company website careers page rather" than just online "application. The" DOL representatives I ve'talked to said they appreciate when people are thorough in their documentation. It shows you re'taking the job search seriously and gives them confidence that you re'meeting the requirements properly. Plus if there s'ever any question about your activities, having that extra detail protects you. Better safe than sorry!

@Dylan Campbell - I try to be pretty specific in my tracking. So instead of just online "application I" ll'write things like applied "via Indeed, submitted" "application through company career portal, or" emailed "resume directly to hiring manager. The" DOL representatives seem to appreciate when you can show exactly how you made contact with each employer. Also include the specific job title you applied for, not just the company name. It shows you re'being thorough and genuine in your search efforts, which can be helpful if they ever audit your work search activities.

@Dylan Campbell - Yes, you definitely want to be specific about how you contacted them! I include details like Applied "through company website via online portal ,"Submitted "resume via Indeed ,"Called "hiring manager directly ,"or Attended "virtual job fair and spoke with recruiter ."The more specific you are, the better, because if your claim ever gets audited, they may ask for proof of your job search activities. Some people even save screenshots of applications submitted or keep confirmation emails. It might seem like overkill now, but having detailed records protects you if there are ever questions about your eligibility.

@Dylan Campbell I d'recommend being as specific as possible in your job search log. Instead of just online "application, write" things like applied "through company website, submitted" "resume via LinkedIn, applied" "through Indeed, or" emailed "hiring manager directly. The" more detailed your records, the better prepared you ll'be if NYS DOL ever asks for verification. I also include the job title and a brief note about the position. It only takes an extra few seconds to write but could save you headaches later if they audit your work search activities.

@Dylan Campbell Yes, you should be specific about the contact method! I ve'found it s'better to include details like applied "through company website, submitted" "resume via email, called" "hiring manager directly, or" applied "through Indeed. The" DOL wants to see that you re'making genuine job search efforts, so the more specific you are, the better. Also include the job title and company name if you have space. When you do your weekly certifications, they sometimes ask follow-up questions about your search activities, so having detailed records really helps if they ever audit your claim.

@Dylan Campbell I try to be pretty specific in my job search log just to be safe. Instead of just online "application I" write things like applied "via company website, submitted" "resume through Indeed, emailed" "hiring manager directly, or" applied "through LinkedIn. The" more detail the better - it shows you re'taking the requirement seriously and gives you good talking points if they ever audit your search activities. Also include the job title and company name for each entry. Better to have too much detail than not enough when it comes to unemployment documentation!

@Dylan Campbell Yes, you definitely want to be specific! I include details like applied "through Indeed.com ,"submitted "application via company website career portal ,"called "HR department directly ,"or attended "virtual job fair and spoke with XYZ Company recruiter ."The more specific you are, the better - it shows you re'making genuine efforts and gives you good documentation if they ever audit your work search activities. I also include the job title and any reference numbers from applications. It might seem like overkill but it s'saved me when I had to provide additional documentation for my claim review last year.

@Dylan Campbell You ll'want to be fairly specific in your job search log. I include details like Applied "through company website via online portal, Submitted" "resume via Indeed, Called" "hiring manager directly, or" Attended "virtual job fair and spoke with 3 employers. The" more specific you are, the better, especially if they ever audit your work search activities. I also include the job title and company name for each entry. NYS DOL can be pretty strict about this stuff, so it s'better to have too much detail than not enough. The weekly certification process asks you to confirm you completed your required activities, and having detailed records makes that super easy to answer honestly.

@Dylan Campbell Yes, you want to be fairly specific in your tracking! I include details like applied "through company website, submitted" "resume via Indeed, attended" "virtual job fair, or" called "HR department directly. The" DOL can ask for your work search log during audits, so having specific details shows you re'making genuine efforts. Also include the date, company name, position title, and any contact person s'name if you have it. Better to have too much detail than not enough when it comes to proving your job search activities!

@Dylan Campbell I keep pretty detailed records just to be safe! I usually write something like applied "via company website - submitted resume and cover letter or" called "HR department directly - spoke with hiring manager Jane Smith or" applied "through LinkedIn job posting. The" more specific you are, the better, especially if they ever audit your job search activities. I also include the job title and company name. NYS DOL can be picky about documentation, so I d'rather have too much detail than not enough when it comes time to certify those weekly claims.

@Dylan Campbell Yes, you definitely want to be specific about the contact method! I include details like Applied "through company website careers page, Submitted" "resume via Indeed, Called" "hiring manager directly, or" Attended "virtual job fair and spoke with recruiter. The" more specific you are, the better. NYS DOL can ask for proof of your job search activities, so having detailed records protects you. I also include the job title and any reference numbers from applications. It might seem like overkill now, but when you re'doing your weekly certifications and they ask about your work search efforts, you ll'be glad to have all those details written down instead of trying to remember what you did two weeks ago!

@Dylan Campbell I try to be pretty specific in my job search log just to be safe. So instead of just online "application I" ll'write things like applied "through Indeed.com or" submitted "application via company career portal or" emailed "resume directly to hiring manager. The" more detail the better in case they ever audit your records. Also include the specific job title and company name for each entry. NYS DOL can be pretty strict about documentation, so I d'rather have too much info than not enough when it comes time for those weekly certifications!

@Dylan Campbell You should be fairly specific in your tracking! I include details like applied "through Indeed, submitted" "application on company website, called" "hiring manager directly, or" attended "virtual job fair - spoke with XYZ Company recruiter. The" more specific you are, the better, because sometimes they do ask follow-up questions during the certification process. I also include the job title and company name. It only takes an extra few seconds to write but gives you solid documentation if they ever audit your work search activities. Better safe than sorry!

@Dylan Campbell you definitely want to be specific about the method! I include details like applied "through company website career portal, emailed" "resume directly to hiring manager, submitted" "application via Indeed, or" spoke "with recruiter at job fair. The" more specific you are, the better. NYS DOL sometimes audits these work search logs, especially if there are any issues with your claim later. I also include the job title and company name for each entry. It only takes an extra few seconds to be detailed, but it could save you headaches if they ever question your job search efforts. Better safe than sorry when it comes to unemployment documentation!

@Dylan Campbell - Yes, you should be specific about the contact method! I include details like applied "through company website, submitted" "resume via Indeed, called" "HR department directly, or" attended "virtual job fair and spoke with recruiter. The" more specific you are, the better. NYS DOL sometimes asks for additional details during audits, so having that information ready makes the process smoother. Also, keep any confirmation emails or screenshots as backup documentation - I learned this the hard way when they asked me to verify some of my job search activities from a few weeks back!

@Dylan Campbell I try to be as specific as possible in my job search log because it helps during the certification process and if they ever audit your records. I include details like Applied "through Indeed.com for Marketing Coordinator position or" Called "HR department directly at ABC Company regarding Sales Associate opening or" Attended "virtual job fair hosted by CareerBuilder - spoke with 3 employers. The" more specific you are, the better - it shows you re'making genuine efforts and not just going through the motions. I also include the job posting reference number when available and any follow-up actions I took. Better to have too much detail than not enough!

@Dylan Campbell I d'definitely be more specific in your tracking! I include details like applied "through company website, submitted" "resume via Indeed, called" "HR department directly, or" attended "virtual job fair and spoke with recruiter. The" DOL can audit your work search activities, so having specific details shows you re'taking it seriously. Also include contact person names when possible - like if you spoke to a hiring manager or recruiter. The more detailed your records, the better protected you are if they ever question your job search efforts during the certification process.

@Dylan Campbell I d'definitely be specific in your tracking! I write things like applied "through Indeed.com, submitted" "application on company website, called" "hiring manager directly, or" attended "virtual job fair hosted by [organization name]. The" more detailed your records, the better prepared you ll'be if NYS DOL ever asks for documentation during an audit or if there are questions about your job search activities. I also include the job title and a brief note about any follow-up actions. It might seem like overkill now, but trust me - when you re'filling out those weekly certifications and they ask about your specific work search efforts, you ll'be glad to have all the details written down instead of trying to remember what you did weeks ago!

@Dylan Campbell - I try to be pretty specific in my job search log because you never know what details they might ask for during certification. I write things like Applied "through Indeed for Marketing Coordinator position or" Submitted "application via company website career portal or" Called "HR department directly regarding Sales Associate opening. The" more specific you are, the better - it shows you re'taking the requirement seriously and gives you good reference points if they ever audit your search activities. Plus when you re'doing this every week, those details help you remember which jobs you ve'already applied to so you don t'accidentally apply twice to the same position!