What happens in New York Unemployment 90-minute Virtual Appointment? Need help preparing

Just had mine last week! Its basically a workshop where they check if your actively looking for work and help with job search stuff. Have your work search records ready and a list of places youve applied to. They'll also want your resume if you have one.

Kept missing my appointment cause I couldn't get through to reschedule. Finally used claimyr.com to get someone on the phone. Costs $20 but saved me hours of calling and got it sorted. Here's a video about how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

Here's everything you need to know about these appointments (I'm a former career counselor): - Have all your work search records organized by week - Bring a current resume (they'll review it) - List of jobs you're interested in - Paper and pen for notes - They'll go over job search websites and resources - Might do mock interview practice - They check your job search strategy - Will help set up account on NY job bank Don't stress too much! These sessions are meant to help, not trap you. If you're genuinely looking for work, you'll be fine. Just be honest and show you're making an effort. If you need to reschedule, use claimyr.com - saves tons of time getting through to someone. The 90 minutes includes registration, orientation, and one-on-one time. Some finish earlier.

missed mine cause my internet went down right b4 it started smh 🤦‍♂️

these appointments are such a waste of time fr. they just tell you stuff you already know

Make sure your camera works! They won't count it if they cant see you

Thanks everyone for all the info! This is really helpful. I've been stressing about this appointment for days. Going to get my work search records organized and update my resume this weekend. Good to know it's more about helping than interrogating. Still nervous but feeling way better about it now 🙏

Had my appointment last month and it was actually pretty chill! The counselor was really nice and helped me polish my resume. They also showed me some job sites I hadn't heard of before. Just make sure you have your work search log ready - they do want to see that you're actively applying. The 90 minutes goes by faster than you think, especially when they're actually helping you find better opportunities. You got this! 💪

Just went through mine yesterday! The counselor was super understanding and professional. They mainly focus on making sure you're doing your job searches properly and help optimize your approach. Pro tip: print out your work search log beforehand - having it organized on paper makes a great impression. They also walked me through setting up job alerts on different sites which was actually really useful. The time flies by when you're engaged in the conversation. Don't overthink it - they genuinely want to help you find work!

I had my 90-minute appointment a couple weeks ago and honestly it was way less scary than I expected! They basically walk you through proper job search techniques and make sure you understand the requirements. Bring your work search log (they definitely check this), a copy of your resume, and maybe a list of questions about job searching if you have any. The counselor I got was really patient and actually gave me some solid advice about tailoring my applications. The virtual format worked fine too - just test your camera and mic beforehand. You'll do great, don't stress too much about it! 👍

Just wanted to add my experience - had my appointment two weeks ago and it was actually really helpful! The counselor reviewed my resume and suggested some tweaks that I hadn't thought of. They also showed me how to use the NY job search portal more effectively. One thing that really helped was having my work search activities written down with dates and company names - they appreciate the organization. The 90 minutes included about 30 minutes of general info/orientation and then more personalized help with job search strategy. Way less intimidating than I built it up to be in my head. Good luck with yours!

I went through this same appointment about a month ago and can confirm what everyone else is saying - it's really not as bad as it seems! The counselor was genuinely helpful and spent time going over my resume with me. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much is to have a backup plan for tech issues. My video froze halfway through but the counselor was super understanding and we just switched to phone only for the rest. Also, they asked me about my job search strategy and what types of positions I was targeting, so it helps to have a clear answer ready for that. The whole thing felt more like career coaching than an interrogation. You'll be fine - just be honest about your efforts and come prepared with your documentation! 👍

Had my appointment about 3 weeks ago and wanted to share what helped me prepare! I made a simple spreadsheet with all my job applications - company name, position, date applied, and application method (online, email, etc). The counselor was really impressed with how organized it was and it made the whole process smoother. They also helped me set up email alerts for jobs in my field which has been super useful. One tip - if you're applying through Indeed or other job boards, screenshot your applications because sometimes the links disappear. The counselor mentioned this happens a lot and having proof of your applications is really helpful. Overall it was way more supportive than I expected - they genuinely want to help you succeed! 💪

This whole thread has been a lifesaver! I have my appointment next week and was completely stressed about it. Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to: 1. Print out my work search log in a neat format (love the spreadsheet idea!) 2. Update and bring copies of my resume 3. Screenshot all my job applications from now on - such a smart tip 4. Test my camera/mic beforehand and have phone as backup 5. Think through my job search strategy so I can explain it clearly It's so reassuring to hear that the counselors are actually helpful and supportive rather than trying to catch you doing something wrong. I was imagining some kind of interrogation but sounds like it's more like career coaching. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you've all made this so much less scary! 🙏

Just wanted to add something that really helped me during my appointment last month - I brought a small notebook and actually took notes during the session! The counselor shared so many useful websites and tips that I would have forgotten otherwise. They seemed really pleased that I was actively engaged and writing things down. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions if you don't understand something - they're used to people being nervous and are super patient about explaining things. One last tip: they might ask about any barriers you're facing in your job search (transportation, childcare, skills gaps, etc.) so think about that beforehand. They actually have resources to help with some of these issues which I didn't know! The whole experience ended up being way more valuable than I expected. You've got this! 📝✨

This thread has been incredible - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I was literally losing sleep over my appointment next week but now I feel so much more prepared and confident. It's amazing how this community comes together to help each other out. I'm definitely going with the organized approach - printing my work search log, updating my resume, bringing a notebook for notes, and having backup tech plans ready. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share what actually happens vs what your anxiety brain imagines might happen 😅. Going to pay it forward and update this thread after my appointment to help the next person who's stressing about it!

Wow, reading through all these responses has been so reassuring! I was absolutely terrified when I got my appointment notice - kept imagining it would be like some kind of audit where they'd find reasons to cut my benefits. But it sounds like they're genuinely there to help you succeed in your job search, not trip you up. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice about getting organized beforehand - the spreadsheet idea with screenshots is genius! Also love the tip about bringing a notebook to take notes. Shows you're engaged and helps you remember all the resources they share. This community is amazing - thank you all for taking the anxiety out of this whole process! 🙏