How to do work search for unemployment benefits - Washington ESD requirements?

Yes you definitely need to track everything! Washington ESD requires 3 work search activities per week. Online applications count but you need to record the company name, position, date, and method of contact. Keep records of job fairs, networking events, interviews, even informational interviews. I use a spreadsheet with columns for date, employer, position, type of activity, and contact method.

the work search thing is such a pain, I've been doing it for 2 months now and it's like a part time job just documenting everything lol

I had issues with my work search requirements a few months back - Washington ESD questioned some of my activities during an audit. I was getting so frustrated trying to reach someone to explain the situation. Phone lines were always busy and I'd get disconnected after waiting for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual Washington ESD agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me weeks of stress.

Here's what counts as valid work search activities according to Washington ESD: 1) Job applications (online or in-person), 2) Job interviews, 3) Job fairs or recruitment events, 4) Networking events, 5) Creating or updating professional profiles (LinkedIn, etc.), 6) Career counseling appointments, 7) Skills assessments, 8) Job search workshops. Each activity must be substantial and aimed at obtaining work.

been unemployed for 6 weeks and the work search stuff is exhausting. feels like they make it hard on purpose

Pro tip: Create a simple log with these columns - Date, Employer Name, Position Title, Method (online, phone, in-person), Contact Person (if applicable), and Notes. I also include the job posting URL when I apply online. Makes it easy if Washington ESD ever audits your work search.

Question about job fairs - if I go to one job fair and talk to 5 different employers, does that count as 5 activities or just 1? I've been counting it as 1 but wondering if I'm shortchanging myself.

Washington ESD audited my work search last month and I almost had a heart attack. They wanted documentation going back 8 weeks. Luckily I had kept everything but it was scary how thorough they were.

does anyone know if informational interviews count? I've been doing some with people in my industry to learn about opportunities but not sure if Washington ESD considers those valid

I've been using WorkSourceWA website for some of my job searches. Does that integrate with Washington ESD at all or do I still need to keep separate records?

The work search requirements seem to change all the time. I swear they were different last year when my friend was on unemployment.

I had to call Washington ESD to get clarification on work search requirements and it was a nightmare. Spent literally 4 hours on hold one day. Someone mentioned Claimyr earlier and I checked it out - that service actually works! Got through to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of waiting all day.

For anyone keeping track, make sure you're applying to jobs you're actually qualified for. Washington ESD can question whether your work search is genuine if you're just applying to random positions to meet the requirement.

quick question - if I have a job interview, does that count as one of my 3 activities for that week or is it in addition to the 3?

The documentation requirements are so stressful. I keep a folder with printed copies of everything just in case my computer crashes and I lose my digital records.

I was skeptical about that Claimyr service mentioned earlier but honestly after waiting 3+ hours to talk to Washington ESD multiple times, I tried it last week. Actually got through and the agent helped me understand the work search requirements better. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person instead of trying to figure it out from the website.

Been doing unemployment work search for 3 months now and honestly it's become routine. Set aside time each week specifically for job search activities and documentation. Treat it like a part-time job and you'll stay on top of it.

One thing I learned - don't wait until Sunday night to do your work search activities for the week. Spread them out so you have time to document everything properly and aren't rushing to meet the requirement.

The whole work search requirement makes sense in theory but sometimes feels like busy work when you're already spending tons of time looking for jobs anyway. At least now I'm more organized about tracking everything.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much more confident about managing the work search requirements now. This thread has been super useful.

As someone who just went through a Washington ESD audit last month, I can't stress enough how important it is to be detailed in your documentation. I thought I was being thorough, but they asked for things like the specific time of day I submitted applications and whether I followed up on any of them. I ended up having to reconstruct some of my records from email confirmations and browser history. Now I include timestamps, confirmation numbers when available, and notes about any follow-up actions. It's extra work but worth it for peace of mind. Also, don't forget that volunteer work related to your field can sometimes count as networking - I had volunteered at a professional conference and the ESD agent confirmed that counted as a valid activity.