What happens at a WorkSource appointment and afterwards for ESD requirements?
Just got a notice that I need to attend a mandatory WorkSource appointment next week, and I'm completely freaking out! What exactly is this appointment for? Do they just review my job search activities or is there more to it? Also, what happens AFTER the appointment - do I need to keep doing something specific? I've been on unemployment for about 7 weeks and this is my first time getting called in. Anyone been through this recently?
28 comments


Emma Wilson
The WorkSource appointment is basically to verify you're meeting your job search requirements and to offer resources to help you find work faster. They'll: - Confirm you understand the weekly job search requirements (3 activities per week) - Review your job search log to make sure you're documenting properly - Offer workshops, training opportunities, and job leads - Possibly help update your resume After the appointment, you just continue filing weekly claims and doing your job search activities. Sometimes they'll schedule follow-up appointments if they think you need additional help. It's really not something to stress about - they're there to help, not to try to disqualify you.
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Javier Gomez
•Oh thank you! That makes me feel better. Will they ask detailed questions about each job search activity? Some of mine were just applying online and I didn't save confirmation emails for all of them :
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Malik Thomas
I went to one of these last month and it was wayyyy more chill than i expected. Mine was actually a group thing with like 6 other people. They basically just went over the resources WorkSource offers and checked that we were doing our job search stuff correctly. Make sure u bring your job search log!!! Thats the big thing they wanna see. After that you just keep doing the same weekly claims and job search activities nothing changes.
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Isabella Oliveira
•Same. Mine was pretty laid back actually! Kind of helpful even. The career counselor gave me some tips on how to improve my resume which I never would have thought of.
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Ravi Kapoor
THESE APPOINTMENTS ARE TRAPS!!!! They are looking for ANY reason to disqualify you and stop your benefits. I had a friend who went to one and they grilled him for an hour about every job search activity. Then 2 weeks later he got a letter saying he was disqualified because one of his job search activities wasn't "valid" whatever that means. BE CAREFUL what you say and bring PROOF of EVERYTHING!!
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Javier Gomez
•Oh no, now I'm worried again. What counts as proof? I just wrote down the companies and positions I applied for in my log but I don't have emails for all of them :
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Emma Wilson
•This is not accurate. WorkSource and ESD are separate entities that work together. WorkSource staff are there to help you find employment, not to disqualify you. While you should maintain good records of your job search activities, these appointments are primarily to provide you with resources and ensure you understand the requirements.
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Freya Larsen
Just wanted to share that if you're having trouble getting through to ESD to ask questions about your WorkSource appointment or anything else, I had great success using Claimyr. I was stressed about missing an appointment notification and needed to confirm the details but couldn't get through the phone queue for days. Claimyr got me connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 and you can find them at claimyr.com. Saved me a ton of stress!
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GalacticGladiator
•Did this actually work? I've been trying to reach ESD for 3 weeks about my adjudication and just keep getting hung up on.
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Freya Larsen
•Yeah, it totally worked! I was skeptical too but I was desperate after trying for days. The ESD agent I spoke with was able to confirm my appointment details and answer my other questions about what documentation to bring.
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Omar Zaki
after the apointment your supposed to do more job search activities and esd wants you too look at those stupid job listings they send. i never went to any workshops after and nothing happened. just keep doing ur 3 job search things each week and youll be fine. the whole thing is just a waste of time if u ask me.
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Emma Wilson
•While the required activities might seem unnecessary to some, they're designed to help people find employment faster. Some of the workshops are actually quite helpful, especially the resume building and interview skills ones. But yes, after the appointment, you just need to continue with your regular job search requirements unless they specifically assign you to a program.
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GalacticGladiator
The WorkSource appointment is a check-in to make sure you're on track with your job search. I'm a career counselor (not with WorkSource) and I can tell you this is more about helping than penalizing. After your appointment, they might recommend certain workshops or training programs. These are usually optional UNLESS they specifically tell you they're mandatory. If they assign mandatory activities and you don't complete them, that could affect your benefits. Just be honest about your job search, bring your log, and be open to their suggestions. They can actually be a great resource if you use them correctly!
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Javier Gomez
•Thank you for the insight! Do you know if they usually make the workshops mandatory? I work part-time already so I'm hoping I don't have to attend a bunch of additional things.
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Isabella Oliveira
i had my worksource thing and forgot my job search log lol. they just had me fill out a new one there and it was fine. dont stress!!
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Javier Gomez
•That's a relief to hear! Thanks for sharing your experience.
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Emma Wilson
To directly answer your follow-up questions: 1. About detailed questions: They may ask about some activities, but it's usually just to verify you understand what counts. If you don't have confirmation emails for everything, that's okay - just be honest and have as much documentation as you can. In the future, try to save those confirmations. 2. For part-time workers: They usually consider your schedule when recommending workshops, and many are now offered virtually. If something is truly impossible with your work schedule, explain that to them. After the appointment, make sure you: - Continue filing weekly claims on time - Complete and document 3 job search activities each week - Attend any specifically required follow-up appointments (if assigned) - Check your ESD online account messages regularly The most important thing is maintaining consistent job search activities and documentation after the appointment.
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Javier Gomez
•This is super helpful, thank you! I'm going to organize my job search info better before the appointment and make sure I keep better records going forward. I appreciate everyone's help!
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Ava Garcia
I just went through one of these appointments last month and wanted to share what actually happened since I see some conflicting info here. The appointment was about 30 minutes, mostly focused on making sure I understood the job search requirements and showing me resources I didn't even know existed. The counselor reviewed my job search log but didn't interrogate me about every detail - they were more interested in helping me improve my search strategy. They showed me how to use their job matching system and suggested some networking events. After the appointment, nothing really changed in terms of my weekly requirements. I still file my claims and do my 3 job search activities. They did email me a few job leads that matched my profile, which was actually helpful. Don't let the horror stories scare you - just bring your job search documentation, be honest about what you've been doing, and go in with an open mind. They really are there to help you get back to work, not to trip you up.
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Nia Watson
•This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you for sharing such a detailed account of your experience. It sounds like they really are focused on helping rather than finding reasons to disqualify people. The job matching system and networking events sound like they could actually be valuable resources. I'm feeling much more confident about my appointment now - I'll definitely go in with an open mind and focus on how they can help me improve my job search strategy.
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Dmitry Ivanov
I had my WorkSource appointment about 2 months ago and honestly, it was way less intimidating than I built it up to be in my head! Mine was a one-on-one meeting that lasted about 45 minutes. The counselor was really friendly and started by asking how my job search was going and if I was running into any challenges. They did review my job search log, but it was more like "Oh, I see you applied to this company - how did that go?" rather than grilling me. When I mentioned I was struggling with getting responses, they actually helped me revise my resume on the spot and showed me some job boards I hadn't been using. The best part was they signed me up for a free workshop on interview skills that actually helped me land my current job! After the appointment, I just continued with my regular weekly claims and job search activities. They sent me a few follow-up emails with job leads but no additional requirements. My advice: bring your job search log, be honest about what you've been doing and any challenges you're facing, and think of it as getting a free career counselor rather than an interrogation. Good luck!
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Aisha Khan
•Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear that they actually helped you improve your resume during the appointment and connected you with resources that led to finding a job. That's exactly the kind of positive outcome I was hoping to hear about. I'm definitely going to approach this as an opportunity to get free career help rather than something to dread. Congratulations on landing your current job!
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Logan Greenburg
I just had my WorkSource appointment yesterday and wanted to add my experience since there's been such a range of responses here! Mine was scheduled for an hour but only took about 40 minutes. The counselor was genuinely interested in helping me succeed and spent most of the time going over resources I didn't even know were available. They did ask to see my job search log, but when I explained that I didn't have email confirmations for some of my online applications, they just said "that's totally normal - a lot of companies don't send those anymore." They were more focused on helping me track my activities better going forward. The coolest part was they showed me how to set up job alerts on their system that match my skills and experience. I've already gotten a few leads that look promising! They also mentioned some virtual job fairs coming up that I can attend from home. After the appointment, everything stays the same - keep filing weekly and doing your 3 job search activities. No additional requirements unless you specifically ask for extra help. Honestly, I wish I had known about some of these WorkSource resources earlier in my job search. Don't stress about it - they're really on your side!
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Paloma Clark
•This is so helpful to hear! I'm really glad you shared your experience from just yesterday - it sounds like the counselors genuinely want to help people succeed rather than create barriers. The job alerts feature sounds amazing, and I had no idea WorkSource offered virtual job fairs either. It's reassuring to know they understand that not all companies send confirmation emails for applications. I'm definitely going to ask about setting up those job alerts when I go to my appointment. Thanks for taking the time to share such detailed and recent feedback!
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Ana Erdoğan
Just wanted to chime in as someone who had their WorkSource appointment a few weeks ago! I was super nervous beforehand too, but it turned out to be really helpful. The counselor spent about 35 minutes with me and was genuinely focused on helping me improve my job search strategy. They did review my job search log, but it was more conversational - asking what types of responses I was getting and if certain approaches were working better than others. When I mentioned I was having trouble with my cover letters, they actually pulled up some templates and helped me customize one right there. The biggest surprise was learning about their "hidden job market" workshop - apparently a lot of jobs never get posted publicly and they teach you how to find those opportunities. I'm signed up for next week! After the appointment, nothing changed with my weekly requirements. I still file my claims every week and do my 3 job search activities. The only difference is now I have better tools and resources to make those activities more effective. My advice: treat it like a free career coaching session rather than something to worry about. Bring your job search log and any specific questions you have about your search. You might be surprised how much they can help!
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Andrew Pinnock
•This is such great advice! I love that you framed it as a "free career coaching session" - that really helps shift the mindset from fear to opportunity. The hidden job market workshop sounds fascinating, I had no idea that was even a thing! It makes so much sense that many jobs never get posted publicly. I'm definitely going to ask about workshops like that when I go to my appointment. Thank you for sharing such a positive and detailed experience - it's really helping me feel more prepared and excited rather than anxious about the whole process!
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GalaxyGuardian
I just had my WorkSource appointment two days ago and wanted to share my experience since I was in the exact same boat as you - totally freaking out after 7 weeks on unemployment! The appointment was actually really positive. It lasted about 30 minutes and the counselor was super understanding. They reviewed my job search log but weren't nitpicky about every detail - they were more interested in making sure I understood what counted as valid activities and helping me be more strategic. The best part was they introduced me to some resources I had no idea existed. They helped me set up a profile on their job matching system and showed me how to access industry-specific job boards. They also mentioned some upcoming virtual networking events that are free to attend. After the appointment, everything stays exactly the same - you just continue filing your weekly claims and doing your 3 job search activities per week. No additional requirements unless you specifically request extra help or training. My biggest takeaway: go in with questions about your job search challenges. They're genuinely there to help you find work faster, not to create obstacles. Bring your job search log and be honest about what you've been doing. You've got this!
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Zoey Bianchi
•Thank you so much for sharing your experience from just two days ago! It's incredibly reassuring to hear from someone who was in the exact same situation as me - 7 weeks on unemployment and totally freaking out about their first WorkSource appointment. Your description of it being positive and focused on helping rather than nitpicking is exactly what I needed to hear. The job matching system and virtual networking events sound like they could be really valuable resources that I wouldn't have known about otherwise. I'm definitely going to prepare some specific questions about my job search challenges and go in with an open mind. Really appreciate you taking the time to share such recent and relevant feedback - it's helping me feel so much more confident about this whole process!
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