Washington ESD asking for main occupation on unemployment claim - how specific should I be?

Thanks! Should I be worried if the dropdown doesn't have my exact job title? Some of these categories seem pretty broad.

Pick the closest match. Washington ESD cares more about your actual work history and wages than the exact occupation category you select.

That's reassuring! I was worried it might trigger some kind of review or delay.

Same here - I was stressing about every little detail on my application but most of it doesn't matter as much as you think.

How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD but can never get through either.

It basically calls for you and waits in the queue, then connects you when they get a human on the line. Way better than sitting there hitting redial all day.

Interesting, never heard of something like that. Might have to check it out since I've been trying to reach them for weeks about my adjudication.

Good point about job search requirements - I hadn't thought about that connection. I'll make sure to pick something that aligns with the types of jobs I'd actually be looking for.

Wait, does this mean if I put 'manager' I have to only look for management jobs? That seems limiting.

Not necessarily - Washington ESD allows you to expand your search to related occupations, especially if there are limited opportunities in your specific field.

How long did it take you to get through when you called? I've been trying for days.

This was back in March, took about 3 hours of calling different times. The trick is to call right at 8am when they open.

Yeah, that's what I'm leaning toward. Seems like the safest bet.

That makes sense. My warehouse job didn't require any special certifications, just experience.

This is good to know. I have a CDL so I wonder if that affects what I should put down.

For CDL positions, you'd want to select the appropriate commercial driver category since that's a licensed occupation with specific requirements.

You're right - I'm probably overthinking this. I'll just go with warehouse supervisor and submit it.

exactly! half the questions on there are worded weird anyway

That's really helpful to know from someone who sees this from the employer side. Thanks for the insight!

So if I made a mistake on that field, it won't affect my weekly benefit amount?

Correct - your benefit amount is calculated from your actual wage history that employers report to Washington ESD, not from the occupation category you select.

Good to hear it worked for you! I might try that if I run into any other issues with my claim.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it would be expensive.

Actually wasn't bad at all, especially compared to the hours I was wasting trying to get through on my own. Check their site for details.

That's great to hear! How long did it take from when you submitted to when you got approved?

About 10 days total. No adjudication or anything, just straight through processing.

Good point! I hadn't thought about the job search aspect. I'll make sure it's consistent with how I describe my work experience.

That's really reassuring coming from someone with multiple claims. I feel much better about just picking the closest match now.

Three times in ten years? That's rough. Hope things are more stable for you now.

Thanks - yeah, went through some industry changes but things are better now. Unemployment was a lifesaver during those transitions.

I did check their FAQ but didn't find anything specific about how to choose the occupation. Maybe I missed it.

Yeah their search function isn't great. Sometimes you have to dig around in different sections to find what you need.

Same here! This has been way more helpful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website alone.

This is why I love these forums. Real people sharing real experiences instead of just official government speak.

Definitely not leaving it blank! Going with warehouse supervisor since that was my most recent role. Thanks everyone for all the help!

Good luck with your claim! Hope it goes smoothly from here.

That's really helpful to hear from someone in a similar situation! I was torn between my different roles but you're right - going with the most recent makes the most sense. It's reassuring to know the wage data comes directly from employers rather than relying on what we select in that dropdown. Thanks for sharing your experience!