Can I add non-Work in Texas job applications to my TWC work search log? Having trouble finding matches

Good news! You absolutely CAN use job applications from outside Work in Texas for your work search log. TWC accepts any legitimate job search activities, including applications through LinkedIn, Indeed, company websites, networking events, and even job fairs. Work in Texas is just ONE tool TWC provides, but it's definitely not the only place you can search for jobs. When you log your work search activities, just make sure to include: - Date of application - Company name - Position applied for - Method of application (website, email, in-person) - Contact information (if available) Keep detailed records of everything in case TWC requests verification. And remember, work search activities can include job applications, creating/updating resumes, networking, and attending job interviews.

The work in texas site is absolute GARBAGE!! i spent 3 hours trying to make my profile last month and it kept crashing. ended up using indeed and ziprecruiter for all my applications and TWC has accepted all of them no problem. dont waste ur time with that broken site

Just to add some clarity - TWC requires you to do a minimum of 3 work search activities per week, but those activities don't have to be on Work in Texas. Here's what counts as valid work search activities: 1. Submitting job applications (on ANY platform) 2. Attending job interviews 3. Creating or updating your resume 4. Registering with an employment agency 5. Networking with professional contacts 6. Attending job fairs or workshops 7. Taking skills assessments or career tests I recommend keeping a spreadsheet with dates, company names, positions, and how you applied. If TWC requests verification, you'll have everything organized and ready. Also, if you're struggling to reach TWC by phone to ask questions like this, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a TWC rep in about 15 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh

I am in the EXACT same boat as you! 29 years old and apparently I should have started my career at age 15 to qualify for these Work in Texas jobs 🙄 I've been using indeed, linkedin, glassdoor and direct company websites for my applications. Been on unemployment for 3 months now and TWC has accepted all my work search activities with no problems. The TWC website even says you can use other job search methods. My only advice is to be very detailed when you log the activities. I save PDF copies of all job descriptions and my application confirmations just in case they ever audit me.

just want to add that I tried calling TWC about this exact question last month and spent 2 days hitting redial before giving up lol. ended up just using indeed for applications and it worked fine. TWC has approved all my payment requests without any issues.

One more important thing to know: make sure you're still completing your bi-weekly payment requests on time, even if you're confused about the work search requirements. You can always provide additional information if TWC has questions, but missing a payment request deadline can cause serious problems with your claim. Also, if your work field has limited job openings, you might qualify for a reduced work search requirement. You'd need to discuss this with TWC directly though.

This thread is so helpful! I just wanted to share that when I was on unemployment last year, I went to a free resume workshop at my local Workforce Solutions office, and they counted that as one of my work search activities for the week. They also helped me set up job alerts for positions matching my skills, which saved me tons of time. Might be worth checking if your local office offers similar resources!

I'm new here but wanted to share my experience since I was in a similar situation just a few months ago. I was also really confused about the Work in Texas requirements, but after doing some research and actually speaking with a TWC representative, I learned that you have a lot more flexibility than it initially seems. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: 1. **Document everything meticulously** - I created a simple Google Sheet with columns for date, company, position, application method, and any follow-up. This saved me so much stress later. 2. **Mix up your activities** - Don't feel like you have to apply to 3 jobs every single week. Some weeks I'd apply to 2 jobs and attend a virtual networking event. Other weeks I'd apply to 1 job, update my LinkedIn profile, and register with a new staffing agency. 3. **Quality over quantity** - It's better to apply to jobs that actually match your skills and experience rather than forcing yourself to apply to random positions on Work in Texas just to meet the requirement. 4. **Save confirmation emails and screenshots** - Most job sites send confirmation emails when you apply. Save these! They're perfect documentation if TWC ever asks for verification. The most important thing is to stay consistent with your bi-weekly payment requests and keep detailed records. I used Indeed, LinkedIn, and company websites for probably 90% of my applications and never had any issues. You're definitely not doing anything wrong by looking beyond Work in Texas!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same frustration! I'm a software developer and was shocked to find that Work in Texas had maybe 5-10 relevant jobs total in my area, most requiring either senior-level experience I don't have or skills in outdated technologies. I ended up doing about 95% of my job applications through LinkedIn, Indeed, Stack Overflow Jobs, and direct company career pages. Been collecting unemployment for 2 months now and TWC has never questioned any of my work search activities. Here's my weekly routine that's been working great: - Monday: Apply to 2-3 jobs I found over the weekend - Wednesday: Update my LinkedIn profile or portfolio (counts as 1 activity) - Friday: Apply to 1-2 more jobs or attend a virtual tech meetup The relief you'll feel when you realize you're not stuck with Work in Texas is amazing! Just keep good records and you'll be fine. I use a simple note-taking app on my phone to jot down details right after I apply to each job, then transfer everything to a spreadsheet once a week. Don't stress too much about this - you're definitely on the right track by asking these questions early rather than figuring it out the hard way later!

I've been dealing with the exact same frustration! I'm 26 and apparently need a decade of experience for "entry-level" positions on Work in Texas. It's honestly ridiculous. I switched to using LinkedIn, Indeed, and company websites about 6 weeks ago and haven't had any issues with my unemployment payments. TWC has approved everything without question. The key is just keeping detailed records - I screenshot every application confirmation page and save them in a folder on my phone. One thing that really helped me was realizing I could count things like updating my portfolio website or attending virtual industry webinars as work search activities. It takes so much pressure off when you're not desperately trying to find 3 suitable jobs every single week on a platform that clearly wasn't designed for people our age. Don't stress too much about this - you're asking the right questions and based on everyone's responses here, you're definitely allowed to use other job sites. Just document everything and keep submitting those payment requests on time!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! I'm 27 and felt like I was going crazy trying to navigate Work in Texas. It's such a relief to read all these responses confirming that we can use other job sites. I've been hesitant to apply outside of WIT because I was terrified of losing my benefits, but everyone's experiences here are so reassuring. The job quality on Work in Texas is honestly terrible - either way overqualified positions or jobs paying barely above minimum wage that still somehow require years of experience. I'm definitely going to start using LinkedIn and Indeed this week. The spreadsheet tracking idea that several people mentioned sounds like a lifesaver. I've been scribbling notes on random pieces of paper and it's a complete mess. One quick question for everyone - when you log these activities in your work search log, do you put the actual website name (like "Indeed" or "LinkedIn") in the method field, or do you just write "online application"? I want to make sure I'm being specific enough but not over-complicating things. Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences. This thread has been incredibly helpful and honestly saved my sanity!

I'm going through this exact same struggle right now! I'm 24 and have been so frustrated with Work in Texas - it feels like every job either wants a PhD or 15 years of experience for what they call "entry level" positions. It's honestly been making me question if I'm doing something fundamentally wrong with my job search. Reading through all these responses has been such a huge relief! I had no idea we could use LinkedIn, Indeed, and other job sites for our work search requirements. I've been forcing myself to apply to completely irrelevant positions on WIT just to meet the 3 weekly activities, which felt pointless and discouraging. I'm definitely going to start the spreadsheet tracking system that everyone's mentioned - seems like detailed documentation is key. And knowing that things like updating your resume or attending networking events count as work search activities takes so much pressure off! Quick question for the group: has anyone had success with virtual job fairs or online career events? There are several in my field coming up and I'm wondering if attending those would count as legitimate work search activities too. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing and you've all probably saved me weeks of unnecessary stress and confusion!

I went through this exact same frustration when I first started collecting unemployment! The Work in Texas website is honestly pretty outdated and doesn't have great job listings for most fields. Here's what I learned after talking to a TWC representative: you can absolutely use job applications from LinkedIn, Indeed, company websites, and anywhere else for your work search log. TWC doesn't require you to only use Work in Texas - that's just one tool they provide. For documentation, I keep a simple spreadsheet with: - Date of application - Company name - Job title - Where I applied (LinkedIn, Indeed, company website, etc.) - Any confirmation emails or reference numbers I've been doing this for several months now and have never had any issues with my benefit payments being approved. The key is just keeping detailed records in case they ever ask for verification. Also, remember that your 3 weekly work search activities don't all have to be job applications! You can also count things like updating your resume, attending networking events (virtual ones count too!), registering with staffing agencies, or even taking online skills courses related to your field. Don't stress about this too much - you're definitely not doing anything wrong by looking beyond Work in Texas. Most people I know use other job sites for the majority of their applications because the job quality is just so much better elsewhere!

I'm so glad you posted this question because I was literally having the same panic about Work in Texas last week! I'm 26 and was getting so discouraged seeing jobs that wanted 8+ years of experience for "entry-level" positions paying $30k. After reading through TWC's actual guidelines and talking to other people on unemployment, I learned that Work in Texas is just ONE option, not a requirement. I've been using LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter for about 6 weeks now and my benefits have been approved every time without any questions. My advice: start a simple tracking system immediately. I use a Google Doc with columns for date, company, position, application method, and any confirmation numbers. Takes 2 minutes per application and gives you solid documentation if TWC ever asks. Also don't forget that work search activities can include more than just applications! I've counted things like: - Updating my LinkedIn profile - Attending virtual industry meetups - Registering with new recruiters - Taking relevant online courses The 3 weekly activities become way more manageable when you realize how many different things qualify. You're definitely on the right track by asking these questions now rather than stressing about it for months like I did!