Do no-show phone interviews still count as job search activities for ESD?

Yes, this still counts as a valid job search activity. The important thing is that you made the effort and were available for the interview. ESD looks at your actions, not the employer's response. Document everything - the date you scheduled it, who you spoke with to set it up, the scheduled time, and your follow-up email. If you get audited, you'll have proof that you did everything on your end.

Happened to me 2x already!! So frustrating when employers dont even have the decency to call or cancel... but yeah it counts

DONT WORRY ABOUT IT!! The system is designed to make us FEEL paranoid about every little thing. I went through a job search audit last year and they accepted EVERYTHING including interviews where the employer completely ghosted me. As long as YOU did your part (scheduled it, were available) then ESD has to count it. The way these companies treat job seekers is CRIMINAL but that's not our problem. Just keep detailed records of all your activities and you'll be fine.

It absolutely counts! Per ESD's guidelines, a job search activity is valid when you make a reasonable effort to pursue employment opportunities. The fact that the employer didn't follow through doesn't invalidate your effort. However, I'd recommend always trying to get at least 4 activities per week when possible, just to have that buffer in case one gets questioned. Remember that applying online, networking events, updating your resume, and WorkSource workshops all count too! Make sure you document: 1. Company name 2. Contact person (if known) 3. Date and time scheduled 4. Method of contact (phone) 5. Position applied for 6. Your follow-up attempt

I had a similar thing back in january where i had a zoom interview scheduled but the link they sent me didn't work and nobody responded to my emails during the scheduled time. i just wrote down exactly what happened in my job search log and it was fine. i think as long as you can show you were making a good faith effort thats what matters to esd

By the way, if you're having trouble getting through to ESD to ask these kinds of questions directly, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual ESD agent when I was having issues with my claim. They got me connected in under 25 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 and their website is claimyr.com. It was really helpful when I needed verification about job search activities that weren't clear on the website.

In addition to what others have shared, I'd recommend taking screenshots of the email confirmation for the interview and your follow-up email. Save these with the date in the filename. ESD audits can happen up to a year later, and having digital proof can save you a lot of headaches. Also, if you use the WorkSource job match system and apply through there, those activities are automatically recorded in their system which provides additional verification if needed during an audit.