Can I use Indeed instead of WorkInTexas for TWC job search requirements?
Hi everyone, I'm on my 3rd week of unemployment and I'm getting really frustrated with the WorkInTexas website. It's so clunky and outdated! I've been using Indeed for years and already have my resume and profile set up there. Can I just do all my required work searches through Indeed instead? The TWC paperwork says I need 3 work search activities per week, but doesn't specifically say WHERE I need to do them. Has anyone been through an audit or review where they only used Indeed? Will TWC accept applications through other job sites or do they HAVE to be through WorkInTexas? Really don't want to mess up my benefits over this!
39 comments


Amara Okafor
Yes, you can absolutely use Indeed for your work search activities! I did my entire claim last year using mostly Indeed and LinkedIn, and never had any issues. TWC doesn't require you to use WorkInTexas specifically, though they do promote it. The important thing is keeping good records of your job search activities since they might audit you. Make sure you write down the date, company name, position, how you applied, and contact info if possible.
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Liam Murphy
•Thank you so much! That's such a relief. I was worried I'd have to redo all my applications. Do you know if screenshots from Indeed applications are enough if I get audited?
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CaptainAwesome
I heard from my neighbor that u HAVE to use work in texas or they will deny ur claim!! her friend got all her benefits cancelled because she used monster.com instead. be careful!!
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Yuki Tanaka
•This is incorrect information. TWC policy clearly states you can use ANY method to search for work - online job boards, company websites, in-person applications, networking events, etc. Your neighbor's friend likely had their benefits cancelled for another reason, such as not meeting the minimum number of work search activities or not properly documenting them. Please don't spread misinformation that causes unnecessary stress for claimants.
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Esmeralda Gómez
Just make sure you're saving EVERYTHING. I got audited last month and had to provide proof of all my job searches. Taking screenshots of each application is what saved me!
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Liam Murphy
•That's good to know! I'll start taking screenshots of all my Indeed applications right away. Did they contact you by email or regular mail for the audit?
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Klaus Schmidt
You can definitely use Indeed, but I would strongly recommend at least registering on WorkInTexas.com even if you don't use it as your primary job search platform. Here's why: 1. The TWC system is integrated with WorkInTexas, so it sometimes helps your claim look better 2. Some employers only post on WorkInTexas because it's free 3. If you ever get selected for Reemployment Services (RESEA), they'll require you to have a WorkInTexas profile anyway What matters for your work search requirements is that you complete and document the required number of activities each week (3 for most Texas counties). Indeed applications definitely count, just keep detailed records including: - Date of application - Company name - Position title - Method of application - Contact person (if available) - Any follow-up Just FYI, attending job fairs, networking events, and even job skills workshops can also count as work search activities!
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Liam Murphy
•I didn't know about those other activities counting! That's super helpful. I'll set up a WorkInTexas profile just to be safe. I have a spreadsheet going for my Indeed applications, but I'll add those extra details you mentioned.
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Aisha Patel
THE TWC DOESN'T CARE WHERE YOU SEARCH AS LONG AS YOU MEET THE REQUIREMENTS!!! I've been on unemployment 3 TIMES in the past 10 years and they never once checked which website I used. WorkInTexas is a JOKE with outdated listings and constantly crashes. Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter are ALL perfectly fine. I even counted calling companies directly and asking if they're hiring! The real problem is getting through to TWC if you ever need to ask them a question! I spent TWO WEEKS trying to get through to a rep when they messed up my payment request last month. Hours of busy signals and disconnections!
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LilMama23
•If you're having trouble reaching TWC by phone, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in the same boat - calling 50+ times a day and never getting through. Claimyr got me connected to a TWC agent in about 20 minutes after weeks of trying on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh Their website is claimyr.com - it saved me so much stress during my claim when I needed to fix an ID.me verification issue.
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Amara Okafor
One more thing to keep in mind - if you're in a rural county, you might have different work search requirements (sometimes fewer than 3 activities per week). You can check your specific county requirements on the TWC website. But regardless of how many activities you need, Indeed applications definitely count!
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Esmeralda Gómez
•I'm in Harris County and they still want 3 per week even with how bad the job market is right now. Ridiculous.
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CaptainAwesome
I love indeed!! So much easier than that stupid workinTexas site lol. I got my last 2 jobs from indeed actually
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Dmitri Volkov
I just wanted to point out that I had trouble with my work search activities because I wasn't specific enough in my documentation. When I got audited (randomly selected), they wanted company addresses and phone numbers, which I didn't have for all my Indeed applications. So my advice is to take extra steps beyond just keeping the Indeed confirmation emails. Try to find the company's address and save that info too just in case.
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Liam Murphy
•That's a really good point! I'll make sure to get more detailed information for each application. Did you have to go to a TWC office for your audit or was it all handled online/mail?
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Yuki Tanaka
To directly answer your question with the official information: According to TWC guidelines, you can use ANY reasonable method to search for work, including: - Online job boards (Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster, etc.) - WorkInTexas.com - Company websites - In-person applications - Employment agencies - Networking events - Job fairs - Professional organization meetings The critical requirements are: 1. Meeting your weekly required number of work search activities (which is 3 per week for most counties) 2. Looking for suitable work (matching your skills and experience) 3. Keeping detailed records of all work search activities If you're ever selected for a work search audit, you'll need to provide documentation showing you met these requirements, regardless of which platform you used. An important note: If you've been assigned to RESEA (Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment), you may be specifically required to register with WorkInTexas as part of that program. But for standard unemployment benefits, Indeed is perfectly acceptable.
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Liam Murphy
•Thank you for such clear information! This is exactly what I needed to know. I appreciate the official guidelines.
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LilMama23
Can confirm Claimyr works for getting through to TWC. After trying for days by myself, I tried them as a last resort when my payment got stuck pending. They got me through in about 25 minutes. The TWC agent was able to fix my payment issue and it was released the next day.
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CaptainAwesome
•how much does it cost tho? their website doesnt say
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Admin_Masters
I've been using Indeed exclusively for my work search requirements for the past 6 months and haven't had any issues. What I do is create a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, company name, position, application method, and any follow-up actions. I also take screenshots of the "application submitted" confirmation pages from Indeed and save them in a folder on my computer. One tip - if you apply through Indeed's "Easy Apply" feature, sometimes the company contact information isn't readily available. In those cases, I do a quick Google search for the company's main phone number and address to add to my records. This extra step has saved me time when I needed to reference applications later. The key is just being thorough with your documentation. TWC auditors care more about whether you can prove you're actively searching for work than which specific platform you use to do it.
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Keisha Williams
•This is such great advice! I'm definitely going to start that spreadsheet system and taking screenshots right away. The tip about looking up company contact info for Easy Apply jobs is really smart - I wouldn't have thought of that. It sounds like being organized and thorough with documentation is way more important than which site you use. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Ryan Kim
Just wanted to add my experience - I've been using Indeed for all my work search activities for the past 8 weeks and it's worked perfectly. I actually got called for an interview last week from an Indeed application! One thing I learned the hard way: make sure you're applying to jobs that match your previous work experience and salary range. I got a warning letter from TWC because I was applying to minimum wage jobs when my previous salary was much higher (I was just trying to hit my 3 applications quickly). They said I wasn't searching for "suitable work" and had to explain myself. Now I'm more selective about which positions I apply to on Indeed, but it's still way better than trying to navigate WorkInTexas. Just document everything and you'll be fine!
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Nia Wilson
•That's a great point about the "suitable work" requirement! I hadn't thought about that aspect. It makes sense that they'd want you to apply for jobs that match your experience level. I'm in a similar situation where I was making decent money before getting laid off, so I'll make sure to focus on positions that are actually appropriate for my background rather than just trying to hit the numbers quickly. Thanks for sharing that warning - definitely don't want to run into that issue! Glad to hear Indeed is working well for you and congrats on getting the interview!
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Nia Watson
I've been using a combination of Indeed and LinkedIn for my work search requirements for about 4 months now, and it's worked great! The key thing that helped me was setting up a simple tracking system from day one. I use a Google Sheet with columns for date, company, position title, how I applied, company phone/address, and any follow-up actions. One thing I'd recommend - even though you can use Indeed exclusively, consider mixing in some other activities too. I count things like updating my LinkedIn profile, attending virtual job fairs (there are tons online now), and even reaching out to my network for referrals. These all count toward your 3 weekly activities and can sometimes be more effective than just submitting applications. Also, don't stress too much about the audit possibility. From what I've seen in this community, as long as you're documenting everything properly and genuinely looking for work, TWC is pretty reasonable. The horror stories usually involve people who weren't keeping good records or weren't actually doing the work search activities they claimed. Good luck with your job search! The Indeed interface is definitely much better than WorkInTexas.
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Ryder Greene
•This is really helpful advice! I like the idea of mixing in different types of activities beyond just applications. I hadn't thought about updating my LinkedIn profile or networking counting toward the requirements - that actually makes the whole process feel less overwhelming. Your point about not stressing over audits is reassuring too. I think I was getting too anxious reading some of the comments here. I'm definitely going to set up a Google Sheet like you suggested and start diversifying my work search activities. Thanks for the practical tips!
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Sean O'Donnell
I've been in the exact same situation! WorkInTexas really is frustrating to use compared to Indeed. I've been doing all my work searches through Indeed for the past 2 months and haven't had any problems. The interface is so much cleaner and the job listings are way more up-to-date. Here's what I do to stay organized: I keep a simple document with the date, company name, job title, and I screenshot the "application submitted" confirmation page. I also make note of the job posting URL just in case I need to reference it later. One tip that's helped me - I set aside time twice a week to do my applications instead of scrambling to meet the requirement at the last minute. This way I can be more thoughtful about which positions I'm applying for and make sure they're actually suitable for my background. You're totally fine using Indeed! Just keep good records and you won't have any issues with TWC. The stress isn't worth it when Indeed works so much better for actually finding jobs anyway.
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Ryder Everingham
•That's such a smart approach! I really like the idea of scheduling specific times for applications instead of rushing to meet the deadline. I've definitely been guilty of scrambling at the end of the week to get my 3 activities done, which probably isn't the best strategy for actually finding good opportunities. The screenshot system you mentioned sounds really organized too - I'm going to start doing that right away. It's reassuring to hear from someone else who's been successfully using Indeed for a couple months without any TWC issues. Thanks for sharing your routine!
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Lucas Bey
I've been using Indeed exclusively for my work search requirements for about 5 months now and can confirm it works perfectly fine! TWC has never questioned it. Here's my system that's worked well: I keep a simple Excel file with tabs for each week, tracking: - Date applied - Company name - Job title - Application method (Indeed Easy Apply, company website via Indeed link, etc.) - Company contact info (I Google this for Easy Apply jobs) - Follow-up actions Pro tip: Don't just rely on Easy Apply for everything. Sometimes I'll find jobs on Indeed but then apply directly through the company website - this often gives you better contact information for your records and shows more initiative. I also mix in other activities like attending virtual career fairs I find through Indeed's events section, or doing skills assessments on their platform. These count toward your weekly requirements too! The most important thing is consistent documentation. I spend about 10 minutes after each application updating my spreadsheet and taking screenshots. Way better than dealing with WorkInTexas crashes and outdated listings. You're definitely on the right track sticking with Indeed - just keep thorough records and you'll be golden!
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Fiona Sand
•This is exactly the kind of detailed system I was looking for! I love how organized your Excel setup is with separate tabs for each week - that's going to make it so much easier to track everything over time. The tip about applying directly through company websites even when you find the jobs on Indeed is really smart. I hadn't thought about how that would give better contact info and show more initiative to employers. I'm definitely going to start doing that mix of Easy Apply and direct applications. And I had no idea Indeed had a career events section - that's awesome that those activities count too! Thanks for such a comprehensive breakdown of your system. This gives me a lot of confidence that I can stick with Indeed and stay well-organized for any potential audits.
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Aaron Boston
I've been using Indeed for my work search activities for about 3 months now and it's been great! Much more user-friendly than WorkInTexas. Here's what I wish someone had told me when I started: 1. Set up email alerts for jobs in your field - these save you time and help you apply quickly to new postings 2. Use Indeed's salary tool to make sure you're applying for "suitable work" that matches your previous income level 3. Take advantage of Indeed's company research feature - it helps you write better cover letters and gives you good talking points for interviews 4. Don't forget that following up on applications counts as a separate work search activity! I keep a simple Google Doc with all my application details and haven't had any issues with TWC. The peace of mind of using a platform that actually works properly is worth it. You're making the right choice sticking with Indeed! One last tip - if you haven't already, turn on Indeed's "Open to Work" feature. I got contacted by two recruiters through that and both conversations counted toward my weekly requirements.
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Omar Farouk
•This is super helpful advice! I didn't know that following up on applications could count as a separate work search activity - that's actually really encouraging since I like to check back with companies anyway. The tip about Indeed's "Open to Work" feature is great too. I just turned that on and set up some job alerts like you suggested. The salary tool recommendation is especially useful since I saw earlier comments about making sure you apply for "suitable work" - I want to avoid any issues with TWC thinking I'm not being realistic about my job search. Thanks for all the practical tips, especially about using the company research feature for better applications!
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Ellie Perry
I've been using Indeed for my work search requirements for over 6 months now and can definitely confirm it works! Never had any issues with TWC. Here's what's helped me stay organized: I use a simple notebook (old school, I know!) where I write down: - Date of application - Company name and job title - Method (Indeed Easy Apply, company website, etc.) - Any reference number from the application - Follow-up date planned The key thing I learned is that TWC cares way more about you actually looking for work and keeping good records than which specific website you use. I've mixed Indeed applications with LinkedIn networking, attending virtual job workshops, and even cold-calling companies I'm interested in. Don't let WorkInTexas stress you out - it really is clunky and outdated. Focus your energy on finding actual opportunities through Indeed where the job postings are current and the application process actually works. Just document everything and you'll be totally fine if you ever get audited. One bonus: I've gotten way more responses from Indeed applications than I ever did from WorkInTexas. The platform just works better for connecting with real employers!
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Yuki Ito
•I love the notebook approach! Sometimes going old school is the most reliable way to keep track of everything. It's really reassuring to hear from someone who's been successfully using Indeed for 6 months without any TWC issues - that gives me a lot of confidence in my decision. Your point about TWC caring more about actually looking for work than which website you use really helps put things in perspective. I've been overthinking this way too much! I'm definitely going to start incorporating some of those other activities you mentioned like networking and virtual workshops to mix things up. And you're so right about Indeed having better response rates - I've already gotten more interest from employers in the past few weeks than I ever did with WorkInTexas. Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping it real about what actually matters!
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Annabel Kimball
I've been using Indeed exclusively for my work search requirements for about 7 months now and it's worked perfectly! Never had a single issue with TWC. The key is just keeping detailed records - I use a simple spreadsheet with date, company, position, application method, and contact info. What really helped me was realizing that Indeed's platform actually gives you better tools for job searching than WorkInTexas ever could. The job matching algorithm is way better, you can set up custom alerts, and the mobile app makes it easy to apply on the go. I've gotten three interviews so far, all from Indeed applications! My advice: don't waste time stressing about WorkInTexas. Focus your energy on using Indeed effectively and documenting everything properly. Take screenshots of your applications, save confirmation emails, and maybe keep a simple log of your activities. TWC just wants to see that you're actively searching for work - they really don't care which platform you use as long as you can prove you're meeting the requirements. You're making the smart choice sticking with Indeed. The user experience is so much better and you'll probably have more success actually finding job opportunities there anyway!
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Mei Chen
•This is so encouraging to hear! Seven months of success with Indeed gives me a lot of confidence. I really appreciate you mentioning the actual benefits of Indeed's platform - the job matching and mobile app convenience are huge advantages I hadn't even thought about. It's awesome that you've gotten three interviews from Indeed applications! That really shows the platform is effective for actually connecting with employers, not just meeting TWC requirements. I'm going to stop worrying about WorkInTexas and focus on setting up a good documentation system like you described. Thanks for the reassurance and practical advice!
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Talia Klein
I've been using Indeed for my work search requirements for the past 4 months and it's been smooth sailing! TWC has never questioned it. Here's my simple system that's worked well: I keep a Google Sheet with columns for date, company name, job title, application method, and company contact info. For Indeed Easy Apply jobs where contact info isn't obvious, I do a quick Google search for the company's main number and address - takes 30 seconds but could save you if you get audited. One thing I've learned is to diversify your activities beyond just applications. Indeed's skills assessments count as work search activities, and so does updating your Indeed profile or researching companies through their platform. This makes it easier to hit your weekly requirements while actually improving your job search. The best part about using Indeed is that it's designed to help you actually GET a job, not just check boxes for unemployment requirements. I've had way more employer responses than I ever got from WorkInTexas postings. Just keep good records and don't stress about it - you're making the right choice!
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Chloe Martin
•This is really helpful! I'm just starting my unemployment claim and was getting overwhelmed by all the different advice out there. Your Google Sheet system sounds perfect - simple but thorough. I especially like the tip about doing quick Google searches for company contact info on Easy Apply jobs. That's such a smart way to make sure you have complete records without a ton of extra work. And I had no idea that Indeed's skills assessments could count as work search activities - that's actually really useful since I was planning to take some of those anyway to brush up on my skills. It's so reassuring to hear that you've gotten better employer responses through Indeed than WorkInTexas. That gives me confidence that I'm not just meeting requirements but actually improving my chances of finding a good job. Thanks for breaking it down so clearly!
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StarStrider
I've been using Indeed exclusively for my work search requirements for about 2 months now and haven't had any issues! Like others have said, TWC really doesn't care which platform you use as long as you're documenting everything properly. Here's what's worked for me: I set up a simple system where I apply to 3-4 jobs per week (to exceed the minimum requirement) and keep a basic spreadsheet with date, company, position, and application method. I also save the Indeed confirmation emails in a dedicated folder. One thing that's made my life easier is using Indeed's "Save Job" feature to build a list of positions I'm interested in, then applying to them throughout the week. This helps me be more strategic rather than just rushing to meet the deadline. WorkInTexas really is frustrating - I tried using it for my first week and the site kept crashing when I was halfway through applications. Since switching to Indeed, my job search has been so much more efficient and I've actually gotten a couple of phone interviews! Don't stress about it - just focus on keeping good records and you'll be fine. The most important thing is that you're genuinely looking for work, which it sounds like you are!
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Sofía Rodríguez
•That's such a great strategy with the "Save Job" feature! I never thought about building up a list first and then applying throughout the week - that sounds way more organized than my current approach of frantically searching at the last minute. The fact that you've gotten phone interviews from Indeed applications is really encouraging too. I'm definitely convinced now that sticking with Indeed is the right move. Your point about exceeding the minimum requirement by doing 3-4 applications is smart too - gives you a little buffer in case any issues come up. Thanks for sharing your experience, especially about WorkInTexas crashing mid-application - that would drive me crazy! I'm going to set up that spreadsheet and email folder system you mentioned right away.
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