PA UC job search form UC-304 vs. CareerLink - Which method is correct for RESEA?

ur fine just using careerlink. thats what i do. nobody ever asked me for any uc-304 form and i had resea too last month

The UC-304 is an older paper form that some career advisors still reference, but PA UC has been transitioning everything to the online system. CareerLink is the preferred method now. You should print your CareerLink work search records before your RESEA interview though - they will want to review them. Here's the official guidance: You need to complete at least 2 work search activities per week (applying for jobs, attending job fairs, creating a resume, etc) and record them. CareerLink is the CORRECT way to do this in 2025.

The UC-304 form is available here: https://www.uc.pa.gov/Documents/UC_Forms/UC-304.pdf But honestly, as long as you're tracking your work search activities somewhere, you should be fine. CareerLink is actually BETTER because it's all electronic and linked to your claim. During RESEA they're mainly checking that you're actively searching for work, not which form you used. Being selected for RESEA doesn't mean you did anything wrong - it's random selection. Just bring documentation of your job searches and you'll be fine.

I HATE how they keep changing things!!! When I was on UC in 2023 they made me use that stupid paper form and now they want everyone on CareerLink??? The whole system is designed to trip people up and deny benefits. I bet half the people who get disqualified just filled out the wrong form or couldn't figure out how to use the website. SMH

If you're having trouble reaching someone at unemployment to clarify this, I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation last month - confused about work search requirements and couldn't get anyone on the phone after trying for days. Used their service and got through to a real person at PA UC in 20 minutes who explained everything. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2

Just to be 100% clear for anyone reading this thread: 1. CareerLink is the PREFERRED method for tracking work search in PA as of 2025 2. The UC-304 form is acceptable but not required if you use CareerLink 3. You need at least 2 work search activities per week 4. Print or have electronic access to your work search records for RESEA 5. RESEA is random selection, not because you did anything wrong This information comes directly from my career advisor who works with PA UC daily.

I'm new to this community and just got selected for RESEA too! This thread has been incredibly helpful - I was panicking thinking I needed to find this UC-304 form that nobody seemed to know about. I've been using CareerLink religiously to track my job applications but wasn't sure if that was enough. Reading everyone's experiences here has really put my mind at ease. It's so frustrating how unclear the system can be sometimes, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people actually help each other out. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else who might be stressed about this - I went through RESEA last fall and was in the exact same boat as you, Henrietta. I had been using CareerLink exclusively and was worried when they mentioned the UC-304 form during scheduling. Turns out the RESEA coordinator I met with was totally fine with my CareerLink records and actually complimented me on how organized my job search documentation was! She explained that CareerLink is actually their preferred system now because it integrates better with their databases. The whole appointment took maybe 30 minutes and was mostly just going over job search strategies and making sure I knew about local resources. Don't stress too much - sounds like you're doing everything right!

Just went through my RESEA appointment this morning and wanted to share for anyone still worried! The coordinator was super friendly and spent most of the time going over job search resources I didn't even know existed. She looked at my CareerLink activity for literally 2 minutes, nodded approvingly, and said "you're doing great - keep it up!" Then we spent the rest of the 45 minutes talking about networking events, resume workshops, and skills training programs available through PA CareerLink. She even helped me sign up for a virtual job fair next week. Honestly, it felt more like getting connected with helpful services than being evaluated. To anyone stressing about this - if you've been consistently doing your work search activities and documenting them (whether CareerLink or that UC-304 form), you'll be absolutely fine. The whole experience was way less scary than I built it up to be in my head!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I just got my RESEA notification yesterday and immediately started panicking about whether I was doing everything correctly. Like many of you, I've been exclusively using CareerLink to track my job search activities and had never heard of this UC-304 form before. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like CareerLink is actually the better system to use anyway since it's all integrated electronically. I've been documenting 3-4 job applications per week plus attending virtual workshops, so hopefully I'm in good shape. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you hear from people who have actually been through the process rather than trying to decipher the official website. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and helping newcomers like me feel less anxious about this whole thing!

I've been following this thread as someone who went through RESEA about 6 months ago, and I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're absolutely on the right track with CareerLink! I was in the exact same situation, confused about forms and worried I was doing something wrong. My RESEA coordinator actually told me that CareerLink is their preferred system now because it automatically syncs with your unemployment claim and makes everything easier for both you and them to track. She said the UC-304 is basically a legacy form that some older materials still reference, but it's not necessary if you're using CareerLink properly. One tip I'd add - make sure you're entering detailed descriptions for each job search activity in CareerLink, not just "applied for job." Write something like "applied for Customer Service Representative position at ABC Company via Indeed" or "attended virtual resume workshop hosted by PA CareerLink Pittsburgh." The more specific you are, the better it looks during your review. You're clearly being proactive about this whole process, so I'm sure your appointment will go smoothly!