How many jobs should I apply for each week for Washington ESD unemployment requirements?

The requirement is actually 3 job search activities per week, but they don't all have to be applications. You can also attend job fairs, networking events, or career workshops. Washington ESD counts those toward your weekly requirement too.

wait i thought it was 5 applications minimum?? ive been stressing myself out applying to 8-10 jobs every week because i was scared theyd deny my benefits

I had the same confusion when I first started my claim. What really helped me was using Claimyr to get through to an actual Washington ESD agent who explained the requirements clearly. I couldn't get through on the phone for weeks until I found their service at claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. The agent I spoke with clarified that 3 weekly activities is correct and walked me through what counts as valid job search activities.

The Washington ESD system is such a mess when it comes to explaining requirements clearly. I've been collecting benefits for 6 months now and I STILL find conflicting information on their website about job search activities.

Here's what officially counts as job search activities according to Washington ESD: job applications, attending job fairs, career counseling sessions, skills assessments, networking events, informational interviews, and approved training programs. You need 3 of these per week, and you must keep records with employer names, dates, and contact information.

Just remember they can audit your job search activities at any time. I know someone who got audited after 8 weeks and had to provide detailed documentation for every single activity they claimed. Make sure you're keeping good records!

I've been doing 3 activities per week for the past 4 months and never had any issues with my weekly claims. As long as you're consistent and honest about your job search efforts, Washington ESD doesn't typically give you problems.

Pro tip: if you're having trouble finding 3 activities every week, WorkSource Washington has tons of workshops and events that count toward your requirement. I use their website to find career fairs and networking events when job postings are slim.

I tried using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked! Got through to a Washington ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual hours of busy signals. The agent confirmed that 3 weekly job search activities is correct and also explained some other requirements I wasn't clear on.

For anyone still confused, the Washington ESD handbook specifically states 3 job search activities per week. I had to look this up when I was worried about the same thing. The handbook is buried on their website but it has all the official requirements spelled out clearly.

same boat here - been overthinking the job search requirements since I started my claim. good to see everyone confirming it's just 3 activities per week. Washington ESD really needs to make this stuff more obvious on their main pages

Quick question - do the 3 activities have to be for jobs in the same field as your previous work? I've been branching out to different industries but wasn't sure if that was allowed.

I've been tracking my job search activities in a spreadsheet with columns for date, employer, position, method (online/in-person), and contact info. Makes it easy to review before filing my weekly claim and would be ready if they ever audit me.

Another thing to remember is that the quality of your job search matters too. Washington ESD expects you to be applying for jobs that match your skills and experience level. You can't just apply to random positions that you're obviously not qualified for.

I've been collecting UI benefits for about 2 months now and can confirm that 3 job search activities per week is correct. What really helped me was setting up a routine - I do one application on Monday, one on Wednesday, and then either another application or attend a virtual job fair on Friday. This way I'm not scrambling at the end of the week to meet the requirement. Also, don't forget that informational interviews count too - I've done a few of those through LinkedIn connections and they're actually really valuable for networking even if they don't lead to immediate job offers.