As someone who just went through this process successfully, I can share what worked for me. I'm also in tech and was doing mostly LinkedIn applications. Here's what I documented: For LinkedIn apps: "LinkedIn Application - [Company Name] - [Position Title]" and for contact info I used the company's main careers page URL or just "LinkedIn Jobs Portal" For networking: I used work emails or LinkedIn profile URLs, never personal contact info The key thing that gave me confidence was calling ESD directly (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above - totally worth it to skip the phone queue). The agent confirmed that they're looking for evidence of legitimate job search activity, not trying to catch people on minor documentation issues. I also kept a personal spreadsheet with full details (exact URLs, application tracking numbers, follow-up notes) but only transferred the essential info to the official ESD log. This gave me backup documentation without cluttering the official form. Been doing this for 3 months now with weekly claims approved consistently. The fact that you're being thoughtful about documentation and actually doing more than the minimum required activities shows you're approaching this the right way. Don't let the anxiety get to you - sounds like you're doing everything correctly!

I'm a case worker at a local WorkSource office and can confirm what others have shared here. ESD's main concern during job search log reviews is verifying that claimants are making genuine, consistent efforts to find work in their field. For LinkedIn applications, your approach of noting "LinkedIn - [Company Name]" with the position title is perfectly adequate. We don't expect exact URLs - those links often expire anyway. For contact information, the company's main website or careers page URL works fine, or even just "LinkedIn Jobs Portal" as one commenter mentioned. Regarding networking activities, using professional contact info (work email, LinkedIn profile) while protecting personal information is exactly what we recommend. ESD understands the importance of maintaining professional relationships. One thing I always tell clients: the fact that you're doing more than the minimum 3 activities per week shows you're taking your job search seriously. That's exactly the kind of effort ESD wants to see. Your instinct to document your strongest activities is spot-on. Keep doing what you're doing - you're clearly approaching this responsibly and thoughtfully. The anxiety is understandable but unnecessary in your case.

Bottom line - Washington ESD has gotten stricter over the years about eligibility requirements. They're looking for any reason to deny claims to save money. Make sure you understand all the rules before filing, keep detailed records of everything, and don't be afraid to appeal if you think they made a mistake.

Another important eligibility issue that hasn't been mentioned much is drug testing. If you're fired for failing a drug test at work, Washington ESD will likely deny your benefits for misconduct. Also, if you're participating in certain state or federal programs that require drug testing and you fail or refuse to take the test, that can affect your unemployment eligibility too. I learned this the hard way when helping my cousin with his claim - he thought his medical marijuana card would protect him, but Washington ESD didn't see it that way for his particular job situation.

Any updates? Did you make any progress with your claim? I'm curious because I have a friend PCSing to JBLM next month and I want to give her realistic expectations.

That's such great news that you finally got it resolved! I'm going through something similar right now - military spouse PCS from Fort Carson to JBLM, been waiting 3 weeks in adjudication. Your tip about the Washington address verification is super helpful. I just moved here last week and still have my Colorado ID, so I should probably get that changed ASAP. Did the Claimyr service cost anything, and how long did it actually take to get through to someone? I've been calling ESD directly for weeks with no luck.

When my unemployment was ending last year I was panicking too. My brother told me his friend got an extension but that turned out to be from 2021 during covid which doesn't help now lol. I ended up taking a part-time job at Starbucks while I kept looking for something in my field. You might qualify for partial unemployment if you work part-time but don't earn too much. Just sharing what worked for me while I was transitioning!

One more thing to consider - if you've worked ANY job (even part-time or temporary) during your current benefit year and earned enough hours, you might be eligible to file a new claim rather than seeking an extension. The threshold is 680 hours of work since your last valid claim. This creates a new benefit year rather than extending the current one. Worth checking your work history to see if this might apply to you.

I used to work for an employment law firm and saw this constantly. Employers contest claims even when they know they'll lose because the delay saves them money in the short term. It's a calculated business decision that unfortunately hurts workers.

Update on my situation - I finally got through to Washington ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. The agent explained exactly where my case stands in the adjudication process and what to expect next. Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck like I was.