Just graduated college looking for job - can I get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Unfortunately, you probably won't qualify for regular unemployment insurance (UI) through Washington ESD. To be eligible, you need to have earned wages in covered employment during your 'base period' - basically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. Campus work might count if you paid into the unemployment system, but most student jobs don't.

same boat here, graduated in december and been looking ever since. the job market is brutal right now

You should definitely check your eligibility anyway by filing a claim through Washington ESD's website. Even if your campus work was minimal, internships sometimes count if they were paid positions. The worst they can say is no, and you'll know for sure rather than guessing.

Before you spend hours trying to get through to Washington ESD on the phone to ask questions, I'd suggest checking out Claimyr at claimyr.com. They have a system that actually gets you connected to ESD agents without waiting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. I used it when I had questions about my base period wages and it saved me so much time.

Wait, can you even apply for unemployment if you've never been unemployed before? I thought you had to be laid off or fired to qualify. This doesn't make sense to me.

What you're experiencing is technically called 'search unemployment' or 'frictional unemployment' in economic terms. It's the time spent searching for a job that matches your skills and qualifications. It's actually a healthy part of the labor market because it means people are being selective rather than just taking any job immediately.

Check if your school has any emergency financial assistance programs for recent graduates. A lot of universities started offering these during COVID and many still have them. Also look into food banks and other local resources while you're job hunting.

I was in your exact situation 2 years ago - recent grad, no 'real' work history, panicking about money. I did end up qualifying for a small amount of UI benefits because of my work-study job, but it was only like $150/week. Better than nothing though!

Just want to point out that even if you don't qualify for regular unemployment, you should still register with WorkSource Washington. It's free and they have job search resources, career counseling, and sometimes training programs for recent grads.

THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!! New grads can't get unemployment, entry level jobs require 3-5 years experience, internships are unpaid exploitation. How are young people supposed to survive?!

dont stress too much about the unemployment thing, most new grads dont qualify anyway. focus on networking and applying to everything even if you dont meet all the requirements

I work in HR and see this confusion a lot. The unemployment system is designed for people who had steady employment and then lost it. New graduates are in a different category - you're entering the job market, not re-entering it after job loss. Focus your energy on job applications rather than trying to navigate the unemployment system.

Look into gig work while you're job hunting - DoorDash, Uber, freelance writing, tutoring. It's not ideal but it can help with cash flow until you find something in your field.

Whatever you do, don't give up on your job search or take something way below your qualifications just because you're stressed about money. This phase sucks but it's temporary. Most of my friends took 3-6 months to find their first real job after college.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr thing - even if you don't end up qualifying for benefits, if you do decide to file a claim and have questions about the process, it's way easier than trying to get through on the phone the regular way. Saved me hours of frustration when I was dealing with my claim.

One more resource - check if your state has any programs specifically for new graduates. Some states have special assistance programs or job training initiatives for recent college grads that are separate from regular unemployment benefits.

Good luck with everything! The job search after college is tough but you'll get through it. Make sure to take care of your mental health during this process - it can be really draining.