How to fill out work search log for Washington ESD unemployment - confused about requirements
I'm really struggling with this work search log requirement for my Washington ESD unemployment claim. I know I need to do 3 job search activities per week but I'm confused about what exactly counts and how detailed I need to be when logging everything. Do I need to include every single application I submit online? What about networking events or job fairs - how do I document those properly? I'm worried about messing this up and losing my benefits. Has anyone figured out the best way to keep track of all this stuff without going crazy?
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KingKongZilla
The work search log is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. You need 3 qualifying activities per week - job applications definitely count, but make sure you're noting the company name, position title, date applied, and method (online portal, email, in person). For networking events, document the event name, date, location, and any contacts you made. Job fairs count too - just record which one, when you attended, and which employers you spoke with.
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Bethany Groves
•Thanks! Do I need to save proof of every application I submit? That seems like it would be a lot of paperwork.
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KingKongZilla
•You don't need to submit proof with your weekly claim, but Washington ESD can audit your work search activities at any time. I'd recommend keeping screenshots of applications or confirmation emails for at least 6 months just to be safe.
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Rebecca Johnston
I use a simple spreadsheet to track everything. Date, company, position, how I applied, and any follow-up. Makes the weekly claim filing so much easier when everything is already organized. The key is being consistent with your tracking from day one.
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Nathan Dell
•That's smart! I've been writing everything down in a notebook but a spreadsheet would be way more organized.
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Rebecca Johnston
•Yeah, plus you can sort by date or company if you need to find something specific later. I also add a notes column for things like whether I got a response or if I need to follow up.
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Maya Jackson
Honestly the work search requirements are such a pain. I spend more time documenting my job search than actually searching for jobs sometimes. But you really can't mess around with this - Washington ESD will disqualify you if they think you're not taking it seriously.
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Tristan Carpenter
•I know it feels tedious but it actually helped me stay organized and motivated in my job search. Having to document everything made me more intentional about applying to quality positions.
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Maya Jackson
•I guess that's one way to look at it. Still feels like busy work to me though.
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Amaya Watson
One thing that really helped me was using Claimyr to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about the work search requirements. I was so confused about what activities qualified and the phone system is impossible to navigate. Claimyr got me through to an agent who explained everything clearly - way better than trying to figure it out from the website. Check out claimyr.com, they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Bethany Groves
•Really? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks but can never get through. How does Claimyr work exactly?
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Amaya Watson
•They basically handle all the phone stuff for you - dealing with the busy signals and hold times. Then they connect you directly to an agent. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get answers about my claim.
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Grant Vikers
•I'm skeptical of paying for something I should be able to do myself, but I have to admit I've wasted entire days trying to reach Washington ESD.
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KingKongZilla
Just to clarify what counts as valid work search activities: job applications (online or in person), attending job fairs, networking events, informational interviews, contacting employers directly even if they don't have posted openings, career counseling appointments, and attending workshops related to your field. Make sure whatever you do is actually related to finding work in your field or a related field.
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Giovanni Martello
•What about LinkedIn activities? Like connecting with people in my industry or commenting on posts?
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KingKongZilla
•LinkedIn networking can count but it needs to be substantive - just liking posts won't qualify. If you're having meaningful conversations with potential employers or industry contacts, that could work. Document the person's name, company, and nature of your interaction.
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Bethany Groves
This is all really helpful! I think I was overcomplicating it in my head. So as long as I'm doing 3 legitimate job search activities per week and keeping good records, I should be fine?
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KingKongZilla
•Exactly! The key is being genuine in your efforts and thorough in your documentation. Washington ESD wants to see that you're actively looking for work, not just going through the motions.
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Savannah Weiner
•Yeah don't overthink it. I've been doing this for 8 weeks now and it's become routine. Just be honest and detailed in your log.
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Nathan Dell
One mistake I made early on was not being specific enough in my descriptions. Instead of writing 'applied for job at Amazon' I learned to write 'applied for Software Engineer position at Amazon via their careers portal, submitted resume and cover letter.' The more detail the better.
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Bethany Groves
•Good point! I'll make sure to be more detailed. Did Washington ESD ever audit your work search activities?
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Nathan Dell
•Not me personally, but I know they do random audits. Better to be over-prepared than scrambling to find documentation later.
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Levi Parker
Does anyone know if there are any exceptions to the 3 activities per week rule? I'm in a pretty specialized field and there aren't always 3 relevant positions posted every week.
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KingKongZilla
•You still need to meet the requirement, but you can get creative with qualifying activities. Reach out to companies directly, attend industry meetups, take relevant online courses, or expand your search to related fields. The key is showing consistent effort.
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Libby Hassan
•I had the same issue in my niche field. I started including activities like updating my portfolio, attending virtual conferences, and reaching out to recruiters who specialize in my area.
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Hunter Hampton
Pro tip: set up a routine for this. I do my job searching Monday, Wednesday, Friday and log everything immediately. Way easier than trying to remember what I did all week when I'm filing my weekly claim on Sunday.
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Bethany Groves
•That's a great system! I've been doing everything haphazardly and then stressing about remembering all the details.
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Sofia Peña
•Same here. Having a schedule makes it feel less overwhelming and more like a regular part of the week.
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Aaron Boston
Watch out for the common mistakes that can get you in trouble: don't count the same activity twice (like applying to the same position at different times), don't make up activities, and don't count things that aren't actually work search related. Washington ESD takes this stuff seriously.
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Sophia Carter
•What happens if you accidentally log something incorrectly? I'm paranoid about making a mistake.
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Aaron Boston
•Honest mistakes usually aren't a big deal, but patterns of non-compliance or obvious fabrication will get you disqualified. Just be truthful and thorough.
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Chloe Zhang
I actually had my work search activities audited last month. Washington ESD requested documentation for 4 weeks of activities. Good thing I kept screenshots of applications and emails from networking contacts. They approved everything after review, but it was stressful waiting for their decision.
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Bethany Groves
•How long did the audit process take? I'm worried about my benefits being held up.
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Chloe Zhang
•About 3 weeks total. My weekly claims were put on hold during the review, but once they approved my documentation, I got all the back payments. Just make sure you respond to any requests for information quickly.
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Brandon Parker
For those struggling to reach Washington ESD for clarification on work search requirements, I had success using Claimyr recently. The regular phone lines are basically impossible, but they got me connected to an actual person who could answer my specific questions about documenting freelance work searches.
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Adriana Cohn
•How much does that cost? I'm already tight on money being unemployed.
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Brandon Parker
•It was worth it for me to get clear answers rather than guessing and potentially losing benefits. They focus on getting you connected efficiently rather than dealing with the endless phone tree.
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Jace Caspullo
The work search log is just part of the game unfortunately. I've been doing it for 6 months now and it's become second nature. Keep detailed records, be honest about your efforts, and don't try to game the system. Washington ESD has seen every trick in the book.
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Bethany Groves
•6 months? That must be exhausting. Any tips for staying motivated with the job search over that long?
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Jace Caspullo
•It definitely gets discouraging, but treating the work search requirements as a structure actually helped keep me focused. Plus connecting with other job seekers through networking events made it feel less isolating.
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Melody Miles
Just wanted to add that if you're doing any volunteer work related to your field, that can sometimes count too. I volunteer at a nonprofit that does work in my industry and was able to count some of those activities as networking/professional development.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
•Really? I volunteer at a local food bank but it's not related to my career field. I guess that wouldn't count then.
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Melody Miles
•Probably not for work search requirements, but volunteering is still great for staying active and building skills during unemployment!
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Eva St. Cyr
Does anyone else find the WorkSourceWA website confusing for tracking activities? I can never figure out if I'm supposed to log things there or just keep my own records.
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KingKongZilla
•You're required to register with WorkSourceWA, but the work search log you submit with your weekly claim is separate. I keep my own detailed spreadsheet and just use WorkSourceWA for their job postings and required registration.
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Kristian Bishop
•Yeah, WorkSourceWA is clunky but you need to stay registered there. I mostly ignore their tracking tools and use my own system.
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Kaitlyn Otto
Thanks everyone for all this advice! I feel way more confident about managing my work search requirements now. Going to start a spreadsheet today and be more systematic about everything.
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Bethany Groves
•Same here! This thread has been super helpful. Good luck with your job search!
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Axel Far
•Glad this discussion helped! The work search requirements seem overwhelming at first but they're manageable once you get organized.
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Holly Lascelles
I just wanted to share what's been working for me - I created a simple template in Google Docs that I fill out each time I do a work search activity. It has fields for date, company name, position title, method of contact, and a notes section. Then I just copy and paste the info when I file my weekly claim. Having a consistent format makes it so much easier to stay organized and I never forget important details. Plus Google Docs saves everything automatically so I don't have to worry about losing my records.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•That's a really smart approach! I love the idea of using Google Docs for automatic saving - I've been paranoid about losing my spreadsheet. Do you mind sharing what specific fields you include in your template? I'm trying to make sure I capture everything Washington ESD might want to see during an audit.
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StarSeeker
•@Holly Lascelles That Google Docs template idea is brilliant! I ve'been struggling with keeping everything organized and losing track of details. Could you share more about how you structure it? Do you create a new document each week or keep everything in one running document? Also wondering if you include any fields for follow-up actions or responses from employers - seems like that would be useful info to track too.
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AstroAce
•@Holly Lascelles This is such a great idea! I ve'been using a basic spreadsheet but I like the Google Docs approach better since it s'more flexible for adding notes. Do you organize it by week or just chronologically? And have you had any issues with the Washington ESD system when copying and pasting from your template, or does it handle formatted text okay? I m'always worried about technical glitches messing up my weekly claim submission.
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