Do headhunter interviews count as job search activities for ESD weekly claims?
I'm trying to figure out what counts as a job search activity for my weekly claims. I had two different interactions with recruiters last week - one was a formal interview with a headhunter for a specific accounting position they're trying to fill, and the other was just a general phone call with a different recruiter who wanted to know my skills and experience for potential future openings. Do either of these count toward my 3 required job search activities? I've been recording them but now I'm worried ESD might reject them if I get audited. Thanks for any help!
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Elijah Jackson
Yes, both activities can count! According to ESD guidelines, interviews with employers (including staffing agencies/recruiters) definitely count as job search activities. Just make sure you document the recruiter's name, company, contact info, and date of contact. For the general recruitment call, I'd classify it as a "networking for job leads" activity rather than a formal interview.
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Isabella Martin
•Thanks! That's a relief. I've been keeping detailed notes but wasn't sure about the general call. I'll make sure to categorize it properly.
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Sophia Miller
Thx for asking this, I've been wondering the same thing! Had 2 calls w/ recruiters last week too!
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Mason Davis
I got AUDITED by ESD last year and they accepted my headhunter interview as a valid job search activity!!! But they wanted ALL the details - the headhunter's full name, their company, phone, email, the position discussed, etc. Make sure you write down EVERYTHING or they'll disqualify it and potentially make you pay back benefits if you don't have enough other activities!!!
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Isabella Martin
•Oh wow, that's stressful! I have most of that info but I'm missing the recruiter's direct email from the general call. I just have the company's main contact info. Do you think that's enough?
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Mason Davis
•Probably OK but try to get more details if possible!! Better safe than sorry with ESD!!!!
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Mia Rodriguez
To provide some clarification on job search requirements: 1. For the headhunter interview about a specific position - yes, this counts as a job search activity under "job interview with employers." 2. For the general recruitment call - this would fall under "networking for employment" which is also an acceptable activity. Just remember that ESD may request verification of these activities. You should record: - Date of contact - Company name and contact information - Name of the person you spoke with - Method of contact (phone, in-person, etc.) - Position discussed (if applicable) - Result or follow-up plans This documentation will protect you in case of an audit.
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Jacob Lewis
•I've been trying to reach ESD for WEEKS to ask about job search activities that count because their website is so vague. Keep getting disconnected or stuck on hold forever. Finally found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual ESD agent in under 25 minutes. They confirmed exactly what you're saying - both types of recruiter contacts count but documentation is essential. If anyone else is struggling to reach ESD, check out claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3
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Amelia Martinez
I totally misunderstood the job search requirements when I first started claiming. I thought only actual job applications counted! I had a bunch of recruiter calls I didn't even log. Then I randomly got placed on standby status and didn't have to do job searches for 4 weeks. Now I'm back to regular UI and trying to make sure I'm doing everything right.
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Elijah Jackson
•That's a common misunderstanding! ESD actually accepts many different types of activities: - Applying for jobs - Interviewing (including with recruiters/headhunters) - Networking for job leads - Attending job fairs - Taking skills assessments - Creating profiles on job sites - Registering with WorkSource Just make sure you're doing at least 3 different activities each week and documenting them thoroughly.
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Mia Rodriguez
One additional tip: For the general recruiter call, make sure you note what types of positions were discussed, even if they were hypothetical. This strengthens your documentation by showing the call was specific to your job search rather than just a general chat.
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Isabella Martin
Thanks everyone for the helpful answers! I'll continue logging both types of recruiter interactions but make sure my documentation is much more detailed. This community has been so helpful - the ESD website doesn't really spell out all these nuances.
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