PA UC job search requirements - What exactly counts as a CareerLink activity?

Hey there! So PA CareerLink activities can include several things: 1. Attending a PA CareerLink workshop (virtual or in-person) 2. Meeting with a career counselor 3. Taking an assessment on the CareerLink site 4. Participating in a job fair 5. Taking a training through CareerLink 6. Posting or updating your resume on the PA CareerLink site And yes, uploading your resume DOES count as an activity, but only the first time you do it. After that, you need to do something different each week. The online workshops are great because they're easy to access and definitely count. Just make sure you're keeping a record of everything you do (date, time, and type of activity).

What a nightmare this system is!!! I got my benefits STOPPED last month because apparently the job search worksheet I submitted didn't have the right "type" of CareerLink activity. I had done a resume review with some career advisor but that didn't count because it wasn't through their official system or something?? The whole thing is designed to trip people up if you ask me. Make SURE whatever you do is actually through their official channels and documented in their system.

The CareerLink workshops usually last between 45 min to 2 hours depending on which one you choose. I found the "Effective Job Search Strategies" one pretty helpful actually, and it was about an hour. You can sign up through your CareerLink dashboard, and they'll email you a confirmation that you can save for your records. Just be sure to actually attend and participate because some of them take attendance or have exercises you need to complete.

I had the same confusion when I first started claiming! What worked for me was going to my local PA CareerLink office in person. The staff there was really helpful and walked me through everything. They have computers there you can use if needed, and they can help you register for workshops right on the spot. Much easier than trying to figure it out online where the instructions aren't clear. Also, if you're having trouble getting through to someone at UC to ask questions about this or any other issues with your claim, I recently discovered a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual UC representative in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying. You can check out how it works at claimyr.com or watch their demo video: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. It really saved me a lot of frustration when I had questions about my work search requirements.

One thing nobody mentioned is that you can also count job search prep activities like working on your LinkedIn profile or attending networking events. Just make sure to document everything CAREFULLY. I write down all the details in a notebook + take screenshots. You never know when they might audit you and ask for proof of your activities. Better safe than sorry!

so do u have to do this careerlnk thing EVERY single week? i thought once u register thats it

Update: I attended the "Effective Resume Writing" workshop through CareerLink yesterday and it was actually pretty helpful! It was about 90 minutes long and the instructor confirmed it counts as my CareerLink activity for the week. For anyone else wondering, they're currently offering a ton of virtual workshops so you don't even need to go to a physical location. Just make sure you register through your CareerLink account so it's properly tracked in the system.

Just want to add that if you're claiming benefits for a while, try to vary your CareerLink activities. I've heard from a career advisor that they like to see different types of engagement. So maybe do a workshop one week, an assessment the next, a job fair after that, etc. Shows you're really putting in the effort.