What counts as valid work search activity for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Yes, online applications definitely count as work search activities for Washington ESD. You need to document the employer name, position applied for, date, and method of contact. Job fairs and networking events count too. Make sure you're logging everything in your WorkSourceWA account AND keeping your own records just in case.

I've been doing this for months now. Here's what counts: job applications, attending job fairs, networking events, creating/updating professional profiles (LinkedIn, etc), informational interviews, and career workshops. You can also count time spent on WorkSourceWA doing their career assessments or skills training.

Be careful though - Washington ESD can audit your work search activities at any time. I got selected for review last year and had to provide detailed documentation for weeks of activities. Make sure you're not just doing the bare minimum.

I had trouble reaching Washington ESD to clarify some work search questions and was getting frustrated with the phone system always being busy. Someone on here mentioned Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helps you get through to actual agents. Watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) and decided to try it. Got connected to someone within 20 minutes who answered all my work search questions.

Here's the complete list from Washington ESD website: 1) Applying for jobs 2) Attending job fairs 3) Networking activities 4) Creating/updating professional profiles 5) Attending workshops or training 6) Informational interviews 7) Career counseling sessions 8) Volunteering (if it leads to job opportunities) 9) Starting a business (with approved self-employment plan). Each activity must be documented with specific details.

ugh the work search requirements are so stressful. I spend more time documenting my job search than actually searching for jobs sometimes. Does anyone else feel like this?

Don't forget that if you're on standby with your employer, you might have different work search requirements. I was confused about this for weeks until I called and found out I only needed to do 1 activity per week instead of 3.

I got dinged on my work search log because I wasn't being specific enough in my descriptions. Don't just write 'applied to job at Microsoft' - write 'Applied for Software Engineer position at Microsoft via company website, position ID 12345' or whatever. The more detail the better.

Question about the WorkSourceWA requirement - do I have to use their job search tools or can I just log my activities there? I prefer using other job sites but want to make sure I'm compliant.

Has anyone tried counting informational interviews? I've been setting up coffee meetings with people in my industry to learn about their companies. Seems like it should count but I'm not sure how to document it properly.

I got confused about this too and was worried about getting my benefits cut off. Used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD and they explained everything clearly. Much better than trying to interpret the website on my own.

Word of warning - don't try to game the system by doing fake activities. Washington ESD does verify things and if they catch you lying about work search activities, you could lose your benefits entirely and have to pay back what you've received.

Another thing - if you have a scheduled interview or start date with an employer, make sure to report that on your weekly claim. It can affect your work search requirements for that week.

Does attending online webinars or virtual job fairs count the same as in-person events? Everything's been online lately and I want to make sure I'm meeting requirements.

I keep a spreadsheet with all my work search activities including screenshots and confirmation emails. Might be overkill but if I ever get audited I'll be ready. Takes maybe 5 extra minutes per activity but gives me peace of mind.

One more tip - if you're working part-time while on unemployment, those work search activities still count toward your requirement. Don't skip doing them just because you're working some hours.

If anyone else is struggling to reach Washington ESD about work search questions, I had success with Claimyr recently. They helped me get connected when I needed clarification about whether my industry-specific certification course counted as a work search activity.

Just want to add that the 3 activities per week is the minimum. If you're in a competitive field or have been unemployed for a while, doing more activities can only help your chances of finding work and shows Washington ESD you're serious about your job search.

Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! I feel much more confident about my work search requirements now. I'm going to start keeping better records and being more specific in my documentation. One question though - if I attend a virtual career workshop that lasts 3 hours, does that count as one activity or can I count it differently since it's longer than a typical job application? Also, do I need to complete the full 3 activities before I can file my weekly claim, or can I file and then complete them by the end of the week?

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been on unemployment for about 6 weeks now and was getting really anxious about whether I was doing the work search requirements correctly. Reading through everyone's experiences has cleared up so many questions I had. I especially appreciate the tips about keeping detailed records and being specific in documentation - I've been way too vague in my WorkSourceWA logs. Going to start a spreadsheet like Nalani mentioned to track everything better. One thing I'm still unsure about though - if I have a phone screening with a recruiter, does that count as a separate activity from the initial job application, or is it all considered one activity since it's for the same position?

I've been dealing with work search requirements for almost a year now and wanted to share a few additional tips that have helped me stay compliant. First, don't overlook industry-specific job boards - they often have better quality positions and employers take applications from there more seriously. Second, if you're in a specialized field, consider reaching out directly to companies even if they don't have posted openings. I've had success emailing hiring managers with a brief introduction and my resume, and Washington ESD counts these as valid work search activities as long as you document them properly (company name, contact person, date, method of contact). Third, LinkedIn has been invaluable - not just for applying to jobs, but for connecting with people in your industry. Each meaningful connection request or message about potential opportunities can count as a networking activity. The key is being genuine and professional, not just randomly adding people. Finally, don't forget about temp agencies if they're relevant to your field. Registering with them and following up regularly counts as work search activity, and they often lead to permanent positions.

I've been collecting unemployment for about 3 months now and wanted to add my perspective on work search requirements. One thing that really helped me was treating my job search like an actual job - I block out specific hours each day for different activities (applications in the morning when I'm freshest, networking/LinkedIn outreach in the afternoon, etc.). This approach has made me way more productive and ensures I'm always exceeding the 3 activity minimum. Also, I discovered that many public libraries offer free career services like resume reviews and interview prep workshops - these count as work search activities and the librarians are often surprisingly helpful with job search strategies. Another tip: if you're getting interviews but not landing jobs, consider that feedback conversations with recruiters or hiring managers count as networking activities. I've had several recruiters give me constructive feedback after rejections, and those 15-minute calls have been incredibly valuable for improving my approach. Just make sure to document these conversations with the recruiter's name, company, date, and key takeaways. The documentation might seem tedious but it's actually helped me track patterns in my job search and identify areas for improvement.

This whole thread has been a goldmine of information! As someone who just started collecting unemployment last week, I was feeling pretty overwhelmed by the work search requirements. Reading through everyone's experiences and tips has made this so much clearer. I especially appreciate the advice about being super specific in documentation - I was definitely being too vague in my initial entries. The tip about keeping a separate spreadsheet as backup documentation is brilliant, and I love the idea of treating job search like a regular job with scheduled hours. One thing I'm curious about - does anyone know if participating in online skills assessments (like the ones on WorkSourceWA or even LinkedIn skill badges) counts as a work search activity? I've been doing several to identify areas where I need improvement, but wasn't sure if they qualify since they're not directly job applications or networking.

Just wanted to add another resource that's been helpful for me - many community colleges offer free career workshops and job search seminars that count as work search activities. I've attended several virtual workshops on things like "Interviewing in the Digital Age" and "Personal Branding for Job Seekers" through my local community college's continuing education department. They're usually free for residents and provide certificates of completion that you can save as documentation. The instructors often have great connections in the local job market too, so there's real networking value beyond just checking off the work search requirement. Plus, the skills and strategies I've learned have actually improved my job search approach. If anyone is looking for additional activities to meet their weekly requirement, I'd definitely recommend checking what your local community colleges are offering!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to collecting unemployment and was really stressed about meeting the work search requirements properly. Reading everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity. I especially appreciate the emphasis on detailed documentation - I can see how being specific about job titles, company names, and position IDs would be crucial if you ever get audited. The tip about keeping your own spreadsheet backup is smart too. One question I have - if I attend a virtual job fair where I talk to multiple recruiters from different companies, do I count that as one activity (attending the job fair) or multiple activities (one for each meaningful recruiter conversation)? I want to make sure I'm being accurate in my logging without under-counting legitimate networking efforts.

I've been on unemployment for about 2 months and this thread has answered so many questions I didn't even know I had! The documentation requirements seemed really overwhelming at first, but reading everyone's experiences shows it's totally manageable with the right approach. I've started using a simple Google Sheet to track everything with columns for date, activity type, company/organization, contact info, and notes about follow-up needed. It takes maybe 2 minutes per activity to log but gives me so much peace of mind. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure to save confirmation emails from online applications! I applied to probably 20+ jobs in my first few weeks but didn't save the confirmations, so I had to go back through my email and browser history to reconstruct my records. Now I immediately screenshot or save every confirmation. Also want to echo what others said about Claimyr - used it once when I had an urgent question about reporting part-time work and got through to someone in about 30 minutes versus the hours I'd been trying on the regular line.

This thread has been absolutely incredible - thank you everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful information! I've been on unemployment for about a month now and was really struggling to understand what activities actually count and how to document them properly. Reading through all these real experiences has been way more helpful than trying to decipher the official Washington ESD website on my own. I'm definitely going to implement the spreadsheet backup system that several people mentioned, and I love the idea of treating job search like a structured job with dedicated hours. One question I have - I've been attending virtual networking events through my professional association, but they're more general networking rather than job-focused. Do these still count as work search activities as long as I'm making connections that could potentially lead to job opportunities? Also, has anyone had experience with whether following up on old applications (like sending a brief check-in email to HR or the hiring manager after 2-3 weeks) counts as a separate networking activity?