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!

Thanks for sharing your update! It's really helpful to hear how ESD handled your specific situation. I'm actually dealing with something similar - got offered a job that's about 18% less than my previous wage and was stressed about whether to take it or not. Your experience gives me confidence to document everything properly and potentially decline if it really won't cover my expenses. Did the ESD agent give you any guidance on how long this "early claim period" flexibility typically lasts?

Just want to add another perspective here - I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago. I was offered a position that was about 25% less than my previous manufacturing job, and I was really torn about whether to accept it or not. What helped me was creating a detailed budget breakdown showing exactly how the lower wage would impact my ability to meet basic needs (rent, utilities, childcare, transportation to work, etc.). I documented this along with my decline letter to the employer. When ESD later reviewed my case, having that clear financial justification made all the difference. The key thing I learned is that "suitable work" isn't just about whether you CAN do the job - it's also about whether the compensation allows you to maintain a reasonable standard of living while you continue searching for work that better matches your skills and experience. Also, don't forget that you can always counter-offer with the employer! Sometimes they have more flexibility in their salary range than the initial offer suggests. Worth a try before declining outright. Keep documenting everything and stay consistent with your job search activities. You're doing the right thing by asking these questions upfront.

Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here! As someone who's been through the ESD system twice (once in 2022 and again last year), I wanted to add that keeping detailed records is absolutely crucial - not just for job searches but for any interactions with potential employers about salary negotiations. One thing I learned the hard way: if you do decide to negotiate on salary before declining, make sure to document those conversations too. ESD may ask about any efforts you made to make the position "suitable" before turning it down. In my case, I was able to show that I tried to negotiate the employer up from their initial offer but they weren't willing to budge, which supported my decision to decline. Also, for anyone reading this thread later - the WorkSource offices can be really helpful for reviewing your job search documentation and giving guidance on what constitutes "suitable work" in your specific field. They're often easier to reach than the main ESD line and the counselors there understand the local job market really well. @Mateo Rodriguez - glad you got clarity from ESD directly! That documentation you kept will serve you well if any questions come up later in your claim period.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also dealing with unemployment for the first time and had no idea that interviews counted toward job search requirements even when you don't get the job. That's such a relief because I've had several interviews over the past two weeks but haven't landed anything yet. The suitable work discussion is eye-opening too. I've been so worried about potentially losing benefits that I was considering taking any offer that came my way, but it sounds like there's more nuance to it than I realized. The budget breakdown approach that @Kelsey Chin mentioned seems like a really smart way to document why a lower wage wouldn't work financially. One question for the group - has anyone had experience with how ESD handles part-time job offers while you're collecting benefits? I might get offered some contract work that's only 15-20 hours per week, and I'm not sure if accepting that would affect my ability to continue receiving partial benefits while I search for full-time work.