How often do you have to apply for jobs on unemployment - Washington ESD requirements?

Thanks! Is there a specific form I should use to track these activities or can I just keep my own records?

Washington ESD doesn't require a specific form but I recommend keeping a simple spreadsheet or notebook. Include date, company name, position applied for, and how you applied (online, in person, etc.). They can audit your records anytime.

It's definitely 3 job search activities per week, not 5. Your friend might have been thinking of a different state's requirements or maybe she was doing extra to find work faster.

Oh good, that's a relief! I've been stressing about finding 5 jobs to apply for every week in my field.

That's helpful to know it's not just applications! Where do you find job fairs and networking events?

WorkSource Washington has a calendar of events, plus LinkedIn and industry associations often host virtual events. Chamber of Commerce events count too.

Interesting, I'll check that out. I've been trying to call Washington ESD for a week with no luck.

Is that service legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone at Washington ESD.

Yeah it's legitimate. They don't ask for your personal info or anything sketchy. Just helps you navigate the phone system to actually reach a human.

What happened? Did they cut off your benefits?

They didn't cut me off but they required me to attend a reemployment workshop and provide more detailed documentation. It was a pain but I got through it.

I understand the frustration, but the requirements actually help many people stay focused on their job search. It's easy to get discouraged and stop looking when you're unemployed.

I guess that's true. It does force me to stay active instead of just wallowing at home.

If you're on standby, you typically don't need to do job search activities for the first 4 weeks. After that, Washington ESD usually requires you to start looking for other work.

That makes sense. I should probably start applying for jobs then since it's been 6 weeks.

Good advice! I'll start taking screenshots right away.

How often do they actually audit people? Should I be worried?

It's pretty random but they definitely do it. Don't worry if you're following the rules, just keep good records.

8 months? That must be tough. Are you finding it hard to get interviews?

Yeah, it's been challenging. My industry was hit hard but I'm starting to see more opportunities lately. Just have to keep grinding.

Those activities don't typically count toward your 3 weekly requirements. Washington ESD wants to see you actively contacting employers or attending job-related events.

Got it, thanks for clarifying. I was hoping I could count resume updates but makes sense they want actual job seeking activities.

What are informational interviews? That sounds like something I could do.

They're when you reach out to professionals in your field just to learn about their company or role, not to ask for a job directly. Many people are willing to chat for 15-20 minutes and it counts as job search activity.

How do they know what you're qualified for though? Seems like that would be subjective.

They look at your work history and the types of jobs you're applying for. If you're a software engineer applying to be a construction worker with no experience, that's a red flag.

The WorkSource Washington website has pretty detailed guidelines if you dig into it. But I agree it could be more straightforward.

I'll check that out, thanks. Haven't spent much time on the WorkSource site yet.

Volunteering doesn't typically count toward your 3 weekly requirements unless it's directly related to job networking or skills development that Washington ESD pre-approves.

That's too bad. It feels like meaningful work-related activity to me.

Years? That's rough. What industry are you in if you don't mind me asking?

Manufacturing. Lots of layoffs and plant closures in recent years. But I keep bouncing back eventually.

Yeah, I'm starting to see that. Forces me to be more systematic about my job hunting.

Exactly. When I was unemployed I probably would have gotten lazy without the requirement pushing me to keep applying.

That's awesome they emailed you a summary. I'm definitely going to try that service.

Ok you've convinced me. I've been trying to call for 2 weeks with no luck. Going to check out claimyr.com tonight.

Perfect summary, thank you! This thread has been super helpful. I feel much more confident about the requirements now.

Agreed, this cleared up a lot of confusion for me too. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

That's really good to know about specialized fields! I'm in a pretty niche area too and was worried about finding enough relevant positions each week. Did you have to get pre-approval from your caseworker for the alternative activities, or did you just document them and explain during your regular check-ins?

I didn't need pre-approval - I just documented everything thoroughly and explained it during my regular weekly claim filings. When they did eventually review my records (about 3 months in), I was able to show a clear pattern of genuine job search efforts tailored to my field. I kept a spreadsheet with dates, contact names, and detailed descriptions of each activity. The caseworker appreciated that I was being strategic rather than just applying to random jobs I wasn't qualified for.