How to win unemployment fact-finding interview - Washington ESD called today

First thing - don't panic. Fact-finding interviews are just Washington ESD's way of getting both sides of the story. Bring ANY documentation you have - emails, performance reviews, termination letter, witness statements. Be honest and stick to facts only. Don't get emotional or defensive.

i went through this last year. the washington esd person was actually pretty fair. just tell your side clearly and dont ramble. if you were really just laid off due to restructuring then you should be fine

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to ask questions about your interview, I used Claimyr.com recently and it worked great. They have this system that calls you back when an agent is available so you don't have to sit on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me get through to someone when I needed clarification on my adjudication.

The key is preparation. Write down a timeline of events leading to your termination. Include dates, who was present, what was said. Practice explaining your side calmly and clearly. Washington ESD adjudicators deal with employer lies all the time - they know what to look for.

ugh this is exactly why i hate the unemployment system. you get laid off through no fault of your own and then have to prove you deserve benefits. its backwards

Quick tip - record the interview if Washington ESD allows it (ask first). If not, take detailed notes. You'll want this for your appeal if needed. Also, if they say you were fired for misconduct, ask specifically what policy you allegedly violated and when.

Update: I found my termination letter and it clearly says 'position eliminated due to budget constraints.' Nowhere does it mention misconduct or policy violations. Should I lead with this?

been there done that. my employer straight up lied and said i quit when i was actually fired. washington esd saw right through it once i showed them my documentation. dont stress too much

Another thing - if you need to contact Washington ESD after your interview for any reason, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier is still working great. I've used it three times now and always get through to a real person. Way better than calling the main number and getting hung up on.

What if they ask about your job search? I thought fact-finding was just about why you left your job but they asked me about whether I was looking for work too.

Does anyone know if you can bring a witness to the interview? I have a coworker who saw everything that happened.

The whole thing is so stressful! I had mine last month and couldn't sleep for days before. But honestly the Washington ESD person was professional and just wanted to understand what happened. Don't overthink it.

Make sure you understand the difference between misconduct and poor performance. Washington ESD has specific criteria for what constitutes misconduct that would disqualify you from benefits.

Whatever you do, don't admit to any wrongdoing even if you think it's minor. Let them ask specific questions and answer only what they ask.

oh and if you get denied after the interview you can appeal. dont give up if the first decision goes against you

I'm dealing with something similar but my employer is claiming I was late too many times. Problem is I have a disability accommodation for flexible start times. Can they still deny benefits for that?

The waiting is the worst part. Had my interview three weeks ago and still no decision. How long does this usually take?

Final update: Had my interview this morning and it went way better than expected! The adjudicator was professional and really listened to my side. Having that termination letter made all the difference. She said I should expect a decision within 7-10 business days. Thanks everyone for the advice and support!

This thread is super helpful. I have my fact-finding interview next week and was panicking until I read all this advice. Definitely going to get my documentation together.

Question - what if your employer doesn't show up for their part of the interview? Does that help your case?