How to register for work for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD - confused about WorkSource requirements

You register for work through WorkSource WA online at worksourcewa.com. It's required within 7 days of filing your unemployment claim. You'll create a profile, upload your resume, and that satisfies the work registration requirement. Don't worry - it's pretty straightforward once you get started.

worksourcewa.com is the official site. You have to register there and keep your profile active. They'll walk you through setting up everything you need for the work search requirements.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about this whole process. Spent hours on hold just to ask basic questions about work registration requirements. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD within minutes. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Game changer for getting answers about stuff like this.

the whole system is ridiculous honestly. why do we have to jump through all these hoops just to get benefits we paid into??? register here, log activities there, its like they want us to fail

Wait so WorkSource registration is different from the actual job searching we have to do each week? I'm so confused about all this.

Pro tip: when you're setting up your WorkSource profile, spend time on the skills section. It helps with job matching and makes your weekly job search activities easier to track.

ugh I procrastinated on this and now its been like 10 days since I filed. am I screwed?? washington esd is gonna cut off my benefits aren't they

Does anyone know if you can register for work if you're on standby status? My employer says I might get called back but Washington ESD wants me to register anyway.

I registered months ago but haven't kept my profile updated. Is that going to be a problem? My skills and resume are probably outdated now.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for explaining this. I was putting off registration because I didn't understand what it meant and was worried I'd do something wrong.

One thing to watch out for - make sure you're on the actual WorkSource WA site and not some scam site. There are fake job sites that try to collect your info.

this might be dumb but do I have to actually apply for jobs through WorkSource or can I apply directly to companies and just log it in the system?

I've been using Claimyr whenever I need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about requirements like this. So much better than trying to call directly. The wait times are insane otherwise.

Quick question - if I'm looking for work in a different field than my last job, should I register under my old job category or the new field I'm targeting?

I registered but now I'm getting tons of job alerts emailed to me. Is there a way to turn those off or adjust the frequency?

For anyone still confused about this stuff, I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to get connected with Washington ESD directly. The person I talked to walked me through the whole work registration process step by step. Sometimes it's worth paying a little to get clear answers instead of guessing.

Just completed my WorkSource registration after reading this thread. Took about 40 minutes but now I feel much more confident about meeting the requirements. Thanks everyone for the guidance!

One last tip for anyone reading this - make sure to save your WorkSource login info somewhere safe. You'll be using it every week for job search logging and it's a pain to reset if you forget.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I was in the exact same boat as you - just got approved and was totally confused about the work registration requirement. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the WorkSource registration at worksourcewa.com really is the main thing Washington ESD is looking for. I'm planning to set aside an hour this evening to get it done properly. It's reassuring to know that even if you're a few days late, they're usually understanding as long as you're making the effort. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here - you probably saved a bunch of us from stressing out unnecessarily!

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - this thread is a lifesaver! I was in the same exact position a few weeks ago, completely lost about the work registration thing. The WorkSource registration at worksourcewa.com really is straightforward once you know what you're doing. One thing I'd add is don't stress too much about making your profile perfect right away - you can always go back and update your resume and skills later. The important thing is just getting registered within that 7-day window so you stay compliant with the requirements. Good luck everyone!