ESD Job Search Requirements: Reporting Interviews & Refusing Lower-Paying Job Offers

For your first question - yes, interviews absolutely count as job search activities even if you don't get the job! You should report them on your weekly claim and in your job search log. Just make sure you document the date of the interview, company name, position, and contact information. As for your second question, this is a bit more complicated. Washington state uses what's called "suitable work" criteria. Generally, you can decline work that pays significantly less than your previous employment, especially early in your claim period. A 20% reduction might qualify as "not suitable," but it depends on several factors including how long you've been on unemployment. Make sure you document why you declined the offer in case ESD asks. The specific criteria for suitable work are in RCW 50.20.100 if you want to look it up.

interviews DEF count!! i had this same question last year & my WorkSource advisor told me to list all interviews on my log. also had a friend who got audited & they accepted all her interviews as activities

Regarding your second question, I had a similar situation in 2024. ESD considers several factors when determining if work is "suitable": - Your previous wage and occupation - The length of unemployment - Your prospects for finding similar work - Distance from your home - Risk to your health, safety, or morals - Your physical fitness for the job Early in your claim period (first 10 weeks), you generally have more flexibility to decline offers that pay substantially less than your previous job. However, as your claim progresses, the expectation to accept lower-paying work increases. If you decline the offer, document everything carefully including the wage offered, who made the offer, when, and your specific reason for declining. If ESD questions you later, having this documentation will be crucial. Also, continue applying for jobs that week even if you decline an offer.

THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO FORCE YOU INTO POVERTY WAGES!!! I declined a job paying 15% less than my previous and ESD disqualified me for 4 weeks!!! They said I "refused suitable work" even though I explained I couldn't pay my mortgage with that salary. Had to appeal to OAH and STILL lost. This is why the unemployment system is BROKEN. They pretend to care about "suitable work" but really they just want you off benefits ASAP!!

hey quick question - does anyone know if phone interviews count the same as in-person ones for the job search requirements? i had 2 phone screens last week

Has anyone actually tried calling ESD to get clarification on the suitable work question? I've been trying to get through for days about a similar issue but keep getting disconnected or told the wait time is 2+ hours.

One additional thing to keep in mind: Even if you decline this offer, you should continue applying for positions that pay closer to your previous wage. Document everything carefully - including why the specific position wasn't suitable (specifically the wage difference and your inability to meet basic financial obligations). If ESD questions you, having these records will be important. You can demonstrate that you're not simply declining work, but rather seeking employment that meets the suitable work criteria. As for interviews - they absolutely count toward your job search requirements regardless of outcome. Make sure to log all the details (company name, position, contact person, date, method of interview).

Update: I decided to call ESD directly about the job offer situation after reading everyone's advice. After finally getting through, the agent confirmed that since I'm still in the first month of my claim, I can decline the position that pays 20% less than my previous job without losing benefits - as long as I continue my job search activities and properly document why I declined (which I did). Thank you all for the helpful advice!