PA UC RESEA program at CareerLink - random selection or everyone?

RESEA stands for Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment. It's not something everyone has to do - you're randomly selected based on certain criteria. The purpose is to help people get back to work faster and verify you're meeting UC requirements. At the meeting, they'll review your work search activities, help with your resume, discuss job prospects in your field, and create an employment plan. It's actually helpful if you approach it with an open mind.

i had to do 1 of these last yr its not a big deal! just bring ur job search records n ur id they just wanna make sure ur actually looking 4 work. took like 45min total

The RESEA selection is supposed to be random, but from what I understand, they tend to select people in industries with high unemployment rates or those who might be at risk of exhausting their benefits. I went through it in February 2025. You'll meet one-on-one with a career counselor who will go over your resume, job search efforts, and help you access CareerLink resources. Make sure you bring documentation of all your work search activities since you started claiming benefits. They'll verify you've been doing the required job searches each week.

IT'S NOT RANDOM!!! It's a TRAP to find reasons to cut your benefits!! They WILL try to find ANY little mistake in your paperwork to disqualify you!!! I missed my RESEA appointment because my car broke down and they IMMEDIATELY stopped my payments for 3 weeks even though I called them right away to reschedule!!! The system is DESIGNED to cut people off!!! Make sure EVERY SINGLE JOB SEARCH is perfectly documented or they WILL use it against you!!!

Have you been trying to reach the UC office to ask questions about this RESEA program? I was in a similar situation last month and couldn't get through for days. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to a PA UC rep in about 10 minutes. They explained everything about the RESEA program to me and even noted in my file that I had questions about it. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. Definitely less stressful than waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.

I went through RESEA last month and honestly it was pretty useful. They helped me rewrite my resume and showed me some job search websites I didn't know about. The career counselor also told me about some training programs that PA UC might pay for. They do check your work search records pretty carefully tho. Mine were a little messy (I was just keeping dates and company names) and they told me I needed more details like contact info and position applied for. Bring a notebook and take good notes!

To answer your follow-up question - yes, they typically do check your job search records in detail. They want to see employer name, position, date of application, method of application (online, in-person, etc.), and some form of contact information or confirmation. If you're missing some of these details, start collecting them more thoroughly now before your appointment. And yes, sometimes they do have you apply for jobs during the session, especially if they find positions that match your skills.

Wait I'm confused...is RESEA the same as PREP? I had to do a PREP workshop when I was on unemployment before but don't remember anything called RESEA?

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I feel much better about this meeting now. I'll get all my job search records organized with the details you suggested and go in with an open mind. It actually sounds like it could be useful for networking and getting some extra help with my job search. I'll update after my appointment to let others know how it went!

Just wanted to add that when I went through RESEA a few months back, they also discussed local job fairs and hiring events that I wouldn't have known about otherwise. The counselor actually gave me contact info for a few employers in my field who were actively hiring. Don't stress too much about the "random selection" - from what I could tell, they're just trying to help people who've been unemployed for a certain period get back on track. The meeting itself was pretty relaxed and collaborative, not interrogational at all. Make sure to ask about any certifications or skills training they might cover - PA UC has some great programs available that can really boost your employability!

I just went through RESEA two weeks ago and wanted to share my experience to help ease your nerves! The whole process was much more supportive than I expected. My counselor was really knowledgeable about the local job market and actually had insights about companies in my field that were hiring but not posting publicly yet. One thing that surprised me was that they helped me set up a professional LinkedIn profile - I didn't even have one before! They also connected me with a local networking group for professionals in my industry. The meeting lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes, and honestly the time flew by. Just make sure to bring everything organized in a folder - your job search log, resume, ID, and any questions you might have about benefits or job search strategies. They really do want to see you succeed, not catch you doing something wrong. Good luck with your appointment!

I went through RESEA about 3 months ago and wanted to add a few practical tips that really helped me prepare! First, organize your job search records chronologically - it makes the review process much smoother. Second, if you've been using indeed or other job sites, screenshot your applications or save confirmation emails as proof. Third, don't be afraid to ask questions during the meeting - they really know the local job market well and can give you insights you won't find online. My counselor actually told me about a company that was about to post several openings in my field, and I ended up getting an interview there! The whole experience was way less scary than I built it up to be in my head. They genuinely want to help you find work, not find reasons to cut your benefits. Just be honest about your job search efforts and any challenges you're facing - they have resources and solutions you might not know about.

I had my RESEA appointment last week and wanted to share what actually happens since I was super anxious beforehand too! They started by reviewing my work search log (bring a printed copy if you can - makes it easier for them). My counselor was really friendly and asked about what types of positions I was targeting and any barriers I was facing in my search. We spent time updating my resume and she showed me how to use some advanced search features on PA CareerLink that I didn't know existed. She also helped me identify some transferable skills I hadn't considered highlighting. The "assessment" part was just verifying that I understood the work search requirements and was meeting them - nothing scary at all. At the end, she scheduled a follow-up call in 30 days to check on my progress. Honestly, it felt more like career coaching than anything punitive. Don't stress about it - just bring your documentation and be open to their suggestions!

I had my RESEA meeting about 6 weeks ago and wanted to add my perspective since I was in a similar situation - got the letter out of nowhere and panicked thinking I'd done something wrong! Turns out it was one of the most helpful things that happened during my unemployment period. My counselor walked through my entire job search strategy and pointed out that I was limiting myself to only remote positions when there were tons of hybrid opportunities I hadn't considered. She also helped me realize I was underselling myself in applications - we rewrote my cover letter template and it made a huge difference. One thing I wish I'd known beforehand is that they can help with interview prep too if you ask. I mentioned I was nervous about interviews and she scheduled a mock interview session for the following week. The whole experience really shifted my mindset from just "checking boxes" with job applications to having a real strategy. Definitely bring questions about local employers and don't be shy about asking for specific help with whatever you're struggling with most in your search!

I just wanted to jump in as someone who was recently selected for RESEA too - got my letter about 2 weeks ago and had my appointment yesterday. Reading through all these responses really helped me prepare, so I wanted to pay it forward! The meeting was honestly great - my counselor helped me realize I wasn't networking effectively and introduced me to some local professional groups I didn't know existed. One tip that really helped: I brought a list of specific questions about my job search challenges instead of just showing up and hoping for the best. Things like "I'm getting interviews but not offers - what might I be missing?" and "Are there industries I should consider that use my skills differently?" Having those concrete questions made the whole session feel more productive and personalized. The counselor actually gave me contact info for a recruiter who specializes in my field and suggested I attend a job fair next week that's specifically for people with my background. Don't overthink the "random selection" thing - from what I can tell, it really is just based on how long you've been claiming benefits and your industry, not because you've done anything wrong!

I just wanted to add my experience from going through RESEA about 4 months ago. Like you, I was really anxious when I got that letter - I thought maybe I had messed something up with my weekly certifications or job search requirements. But it turned out to be really beneficial! My counselor helped me update my resume format (apparently I was using an outdated style that wasn't getting past applicant tracking systems) and showed me how to tailor my applications better for each position. One thing that really surprised me was that they have partnerships with local employers who specifically recruit through CareerLink - I got connected to three companies that weren't advertising their openings publicly yet. The "assessment" part was just them making sure I understood the work search requirements and helping me be more strategic about meeting them. They even helped me set up informational interviews with people in my field, which led to some great networking opportunities. Just bring all your documentation organized, be honest about any challenges you're facing, and go in with an open mind. It's really designed to help you succeed, not to trip you up!

I went through RESEA about 2 months ago and wanted to share something that might help ease your anxiety - bring a small notebook and pen with you! My counselor gave me so much valuable information during the session that I wished I had been taking better notes. She told me about specific companies that were hiring, upcoming job fairs, free certification programs through the state, and even gave me names of HR contacts at a few local businesses. I was so focused on not seeming "unprepared" that I didn't think to write things down in the moment. Luckily she printed out some resources for me, but I definitely missed capturing some of the verbal tips she shared. Also, if you're in a specialized field, mention it right away - they often have connections or resources specific to different industries that they can pull up during your session. The whole experience was genuinely helpful and much more collaborative than I expected. You've got this!