How to fill out job search log for unemployment online - Washington ESD requirements

Thanks! Do I need to submit this log with every weekly claim or just keep it for my records?

You just keep it for your records, but you'll need to certify each week that you completed the required job search activities. Washington ESD can request to see your log at any time during an audit.

Thanks! Do I need to keep documentation of these activities separately or is the online log enough?

Keep your own records too - screenshots of applications, business cards from networking, etc. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities and you'll need proof.

Which section of the SAW portal? I see the weekly claim filing but not sure where the job search log is.

it should be under 'Job Search Activities' or something like that. if you can't find it try calling but good luck getting through

Be careful with that approach - Washington ESD has been doing more job search audits lately. If you can't provide adequate documentation, they can disqualify you and demand repayment of benefits.

yikes ok maybe i should be more careful about keeping track

How much does that service cost? I'm already strapped for cash being unemployed.

It's worth it when you consider how much time you save vs trying to call yourself. Plus if you mess up the job search requirements you could lose your benefits entirely.

I'm skeptical of paying for something that should be free but if it actually works...

That sounds helpful! I've been trying to call for weeks without getting through. How does Claimyr actually work?

It basically helps you get connected to Washington ESD agents by phone without the usual wait times and busy signals. Really saved me a lot of frustration when I needed answers about my claim.

I get the frustration but the requirements aren't that bad once you understand them. Better to work with the system than fight it.

Easy for you to say! I've been dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare for 3 months

This is super helpful! Do online courses count as skills training?

Yes, as long as they're relevant to your field or help with job readiness. Keep certificates or completion records.

What about LinkedIn networking? I spend a lot of time connecting with people in my industry.

Career workshops and professional development activities can count as job search activities. LinkedIn profile updates might not count on their own, but networking through LinkedIn could. Check the WorkSource website for the complete list of qualifying activities.

Thanks! I'll check WorkSource for the full list. Better to be safe than sorry with these requirements.

I feel you on the frustration, but the requirements exist for a reason. Just have to play by their rules to keep getting benefits.

I know, I know. Just venting because it feels like they make everything unnecessarily complicated.

Any tips for staying organized? I'm terrible with record keeping.

i use a simple spreadsheet - date, company, position, how i applied, any follow up. copy and paste into the washington esd system when i file weekly

Standby status is different - you're temporarily laid off with expectation of recall. You typically don't need to do job search activities but check with your employer and Washington ESD to be sure.

Ok good because I've been stressing about this for nothing then!

That's a great idea! Do you have a template you could share?

I don't have a shareable template, but the key is just being consistent with the information you track. Make sure every entry has enough detail to prove it was a legitimate job search activity.

yeah the site is pretty glitchy especially during peak times. try early morning or late evening

Good tip, I'll try that. So frustrating when you're trying to stay compliant and the system won't work.

If you're on standby status, you typically don't need to complete job search activities. Standby means you're temporarily laid off but expect to return to your job within a specific timeframe. Regular UI claimants need to complete job search requirements.

ok good cause i was getting worried i was doing something wrong

What kind of proof did they want? Screenshots of applications?

Email confirmations, business cards from networking events, certificates from training, anything that shows you actually did what you claimed.

This is making me nervous. I haven't been saving much documentation.

Screenshots are smart! I never thought of that. Do you save them in a specific folder system?

Yeah, I organize them by week and month. Makes it easy to find everything if I need it later.

Yes, registering with temp agencies counts as a job search activity. Make sure to document the agency name, date of registration, and any positions you discussed with them.

Perfect, thanks! That helps me meet my requirement for this week.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money with unemployment.

It's worth checking out their website to see if it makes sense for your situation. For me, the peace of mind was valuable when I was confused about the requirements.

Yes, networking events typically count as job search activities. Document the event name, date, organizer, and any contacts you made. Even if you didn't apply for specific jobs, networking is considered a legitimate job search activity.

Great! I'll make sure to document those events going forward.

Digital is fine as long as you can access it if Washington ESD requests it. Just make sure you back it up somewhere safe so you don't lose your records.

ok cool i'll keep it in google docs then

You should still document what you did that week and be prepared to explain the circumstances if audited. Being sick might be considered good cause for not meeting the full requirement, but you'd need to provide documentation if questioned.

Thanks, I'll keep a note about being sick that week in case it comes up later.

The best source for current requirements is the Washington ESD website and WorkSource. They update the requirements there when changes happen. You can also sign up for their email updates to stay informed.

Good idea, I'll sign up for the email updates. Thanks!

Wow, that's scary! How detailed did your records need to be for the audit?

pretty detailed - they wanted employer names, dates, contact info, and proof of what i did. screenshots and emails helped a lot

Training courses can count as job search activities, especially if they're related to your field or improve your employability. Make sure to document the course name, provider, dates, and how it relates to your job search goals.

Perfect! I'll add that to my job search log. The course is definitely related to my field.

I'm definitely going to look into that. I've been trying to call for weeks without success.

same here, the phone lines are always busy or they hang up on you

Good advice! I was trying to do it monthly and kept forgetting details.

Yeah, doing it weekly makes it much more manageable and accurate.

Great advice! I set reminders on my phone to update my log every couple days.

Smart! Consistency is key with this stuff.

Volunteer work can count if it's directly related to gaining job skills or networking in your field. Document how it relates to your job search goals.

Perfect, it's definitely helping me build relevant experience for the roles I'm applying for.

The basic requirements have been pretty consistent. What's changed is they're more strict about documentation and verification. Better to over-document than under-document.

I guess that makes sense given all the fraud issues they had during the pandemic.

Ok I'm convinced now. If it actually gets you through to real people it's worth it.

Yeah, way better than sitting on hold for hours or never getting a callback.

Good point! I forgot about WorkSource. Do their workshops automatically get logged or do I need to enter them manually?

you still need to log them manually but they give you certificates you can keep as documentation

8 months?? That's rough. Are you having trouble finding work in your field?

Tech layoffs hit hard last year. Finally starting to see more opportunities opening up though.

Thanks for the encouragement. Good to know the system becomes easier with practice.

What's the difference? I thought they were the same thing.

Work search is broader and includes things like career counseling. Job search is more specific to actually looking for and applying to jobs. But for the weekly claims both count toward your requirements.

Absolutely agree. It's not worth losing benefits over sloppy record keeping.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I feel much more confident about handling the job search log now.

Glad we could help! Remember to stay consistent with your documentation and you'll be fine.

This is such great advice! I never thought about taking screenshots of job postings before applying. That's really smart since so many companies do remove postings quickly. I'm definitely going to start doing that along with organizing everything in folders by week. The Google Drive idea is perfect since I can access it from anywhere. Thanks for sharing these practical tips - it makes the whole process feel much less overwhelming!

This template idea is brilliant! I've been struggling to keep everything organized and this gives me a clear structure to follow. I especially like including the follow-up notes section - I never thought to track those but it makes sense for showing ongoing job search efforts. The tip about LinkedIn conversations counting as networking is really valuable too. I've had several good career discussions on there but wasn't sure if they qualified. Do you find that having all this documentation actually helps with your job search beyond just meeting the ESD requirements?