New York Unemployment mandatory meeting - what should I expect?

Just had mine last week. Its pretty basic - they go over job search requirements, make sure your looking for work, and check that your keeping good records. Nothing to stress about if your doing everything right 👍

BTW if anyone needs help getting through to unemployment, I found this site claimyr.com that calls and waits on hold then transfers you to an agent when they pick up. Costs $20 but worked for me. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

These meetings are such bs. They're just trying to intimidate people and find excuses to cut benefits. System is rigged against us 🤮

Make sure you bring ALL your job search records! They will ask for specific details about where you applied, who you contacted, etc. Also dress business casual - first impressions matter!

Had mine 2 weeks ago. Basically a group meeting where they explain resources for finding work and review requirements. Takes like an hour. Show up 15 mins early cause parking can be rough lol

HUGE DETAILED INFO ON MEETINGS: These meetings are part of NY unemployment's reemployment services. Here's what you need to know: What to Bring: - All job search records - Photo ID - Copy of your unemployment paperwork - Resume if you have one What They Cover: - Job search requirements - Available training programs - Local job market info - Resume help - Interview tips If you need to reschedule, use claimyr.com to get through to an agent quickly. The regular phone lines are always jammed. Don't stress - just be prepared and professional. They're mostly trying to help people get back to work, not looking to cut benefits 💯

Just went through one of these last month! The meeting itself wasn't bad at all - mostly informational. They had us fill out a form about our job search activities and then went over resources like job training programs and career centers. The staff was actually pretty helpful and not intimidating like I expected. Main thing is just keep good records of where you've applied and when. Bring a notepad too because they give you info about local job fairs and stuff you might want to write down.

Been to two of these meetings over the past couple years. They're really not as scary as they seem! Mine was about 90 minutes with maybe 15-20 people. They start with a presentation about job search strategies and local resources, then break into smaller groups to review individual cases. The counselors are actually pretty understanding - they know people are going through tough times. Just make sure you can show you're actively looking for work (keep a simple spreadsheet with company names, dates, and positions applied for). One tip: if you're having trouble finding jobs in your field, mention it during the meeting. They sometimes have info about retraining programs or other industries that are hiring. Good luck! 👍

I had my meeting about 3 months ago and it was way less stressful than I thought it would be! They basically just want to see that you're making a genuine effort to find work. The counselor looked through my job search log pretty quickly - just checking dates and that I was applying to relevant positions. What helped me was having everything organized in a simple notebook with company names, dates applied, and follow-up actions. They also gave us a bunch of handouts about local job resources and upcoming hiring events. The whole thing took about 2 hours including the group presentation. Just be honest about your job search efforts and you'll be fine!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's been through this process twice now. The meetings really aren't as bad as they sound! Mine was held at the local career center and felt more like a workshop than an interrogation. They had us sit in a circle and the facilitator was actually pretty friendly. The main things they covered were: 1) Making sure we understood the weekly job search requirements (3 contacts per week minimum), 2) Going over local resources like the job board and career counseling services, and 3) Checking that we're keeping proper records. They did ask to see our job search logs but it was more of a quick glance to make sure we had something organized rather than scrutinizing every detail. The whole thing lasted about 90 minutes and honestly I learned about a few job resources I didn't know existed. My advice: bring a simple log showing where you applied, when, and for what position. Don't overthink it - they're mostly just trying to connect people with resources to help them find work faster.

I went to one of these meetings about 6 weeks ago and honestly it was much more chill than I expected! The whole thing felt more like a group info session than an individual grilling. They had about 12 people there and we sat around tables while a counselor went through a PowerPoint about job search strategies and local resources. The main things they wanted to see were: - That you're actually looking for work (they asked to flip through our job search records but didn't examine them closely) - Understanding of the weekly requirements - If you needed any additional help or resources What surprised me was how helpful they actually were - they told us about job fairs I hadn't heard of and gave info about free training programs. The counselor even stayed after to answer individual questions. My biggest tip: bring a simple notebook or folder with your job applications organized by date. Doesn't have to be fancy, just shows you're keeping track. And don't worry about having "perfect" records - they understand the job market is tough right now. The whole thing was done in about an hour and honestly made me feel more supported rather than scrutinized. You got this! 💪

I just had my mandatory meeting last Tuesday and want to add my experience to help ease your nerves! Mine was at the One-Stop Career Center and was way more supportive than I anticipated. There were about 20 people there and it started with a 45-minute presentation covering job search requirements, available resources, and tips for networking. Then they broke us into smaller groups of 4-5 people with individual counselors who reviewed our job search activities. The counselor was really understanding and actually gave me some great suggestions for expanding my search to related fields I hadn't considered. She looked at my job search log for maybe 2 minutes just to confirm I was keeping track of applications. The key things to remember: bring any records you have (even if they're not perfect), dress professionally, and be honest about your efforts. They're genuinely trying to help you succeed, not trip you up. The meeting ended with information about upcoming job fairs and skills workshops. Honestly left feeling more motivated than when I went in! You'll do great 😊

Had my mandatory meeting about a month ago and wanted to share what it was actually like! I was super nervous going in but it turned out to be way more reasonable than I expected. Mine was at the local workforce center with about 15 other people. They started with a group presentation covering the job search requirements and local resources, then we met individually with counselors for like 10-15 minutes each. The counselor just wanted to see that I was keeping some kind of record of my job applications - I had a simple Word doc with company names, dates, and positions which was totally fine. She actually helped me brainstorm some new places to apply that I hadn't thought of! The whole thing took about 2 hours total. Main takeaway: just show that you're making genuine effort to find work and be organized about it. They're really not trying to trick you or cut your benefits - more like making sure you know about all the resources available to help. Bring whatever records you have (doesn't need to be perfect) and you'll be fine! 👍

Just wanted to chime in as someone who had their mandatory meeting a few weeks back! I was honestly dreading it based on horror stories I'd heard online, but it was actually pretty straightforward. Mine was held at the local American Job Center and had about 18 people. Started with a group session where they went over job search requirements and local resources - stuff like resume workshops, job fairs, and training programs I didn't even know existed. Then we had brief one-on-one check-ins with counselors. My counselor was really nice and just wanted to see that I was keeping track of my job applications. I brought a simple notebook where I'd been writing down company names, dates applied, and position titles - nothing fancy but it showed I was staying organized. She actually gave me some good tips about tailoring my resume for different industries! The whole thing took about 90 minutes and I left feeling more informed than stressed. My advice: bring whatever job search records you have (even if they're messy), dress business casual, and go in with an open mind. They really do want to help you find work, not make your life harder. You got this! 🙂

Just wanted to add my recent experience to help out! Had my mandatory meeting two weeks ago and it was honestly way better than I expected. Mine was at the Brooklyn One-Stop center with about 12 other people. The whole thing was really informative - they covered job search requirements, showed us how to use the state job portal more effectively, and went over free resources like career counseling and skills assessments. The individual check-in was super quick, maybe 5 minutes. The counselor just glanced at my job search log (I kept it in a simple Excel sheet with company, date, position, and application method) and asked if I needed any help with my search strategy. She even suggested some staffing agencies in my field that I hadn't considered! The atmosphere was supportive, not interrogative at all. Total time was about 75 minutes. Just bring whatever records you have - even handwritten notes are fine as long as you can show you're actively looking. Don't stress about it, they really are there to help connect you with resources to find work faster. Good luck with your meeting! 🍀

Just wanted to share my experience from last month to help calm your nerves! I was super anxious beforehand too but it turned out to be really manageable. Mine was at the Queens One-Stop center with about 14 people. They started with a group presentation covering job search requirements and went over tons of resources I had no idea existed - like free career coaching, computer classes, and industry-specific job boards. The individual part was maybe 10 minutes where the counselor looked through my job search records (I just had a basic list in a composition notebook) and asked if I was having any specific challenges finding work in my field. She was actually really encouraging and suggested a few networking events coming up that might be helpful. The whole meeting took about 90 minutes and honestly I felt more supported afterward than stressed. My advice: bring whatever job search records you have even if they're not perfect, dress professionally, and remember they genuinely want to help you succeed. You'll do great! 👍

Hey everyone! I just wanted to say THANK YOU so much for all these detailed experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was honestly pretty stressed about my upcoming meeting but reading all your stories has completely changed my perspective. It's so reassuring to hear that these meetings are actually supportive rather than intimidating. I've been keeping my job search records in a basic notebook but after reading all the suggestions here, I'm going to organize them into a simple spreadsheet with company names, dates, and positions. The fact that so many of you mentioned the counselors actually providing helpful suggestions and resources makes me feel like this could be genuinely beneficial. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences - this community is amazing! Feeling much more confident about my meeting now 😊

Just wanted to add my experience from a couple weeks ago! I was super nervous reading all the horror stories online, but honestly this thread is way more accurate than the scary stuff you see elsewhere. My meeting was at the Manhattan One-Stop center with about 16 people. They did a really helpful group presentation about job search strategies and local resources - I actually learned about some industry networking groups I had no idea existed! The individual check was maybe 8-10 minutes where the counselor looked at my job search log (just a simple Google doc with company, date, position, and how I applied) and asked if I was running into any specific challenges. She was super understanding about how tough the current job market is and even gave me contact info for a career counselor who specializes in my field. Whole thing took about 80 minutes total. Main advice: bring whatever organized records you have, dress business casual, and go in with an open mind - they really are trying to help you succeed, not catch you doing something wrong. The staff genuinely wants to connect you with resources to get back to work faster. You'll do great! 🌟