myjobcontacts › What counts as a work search

What counts as a work search contact for unemployment?

Counts in almost every state

• Applying for a job online, by email, by mail or in person
• Calling or visiting an employer to ask about openings
• A job interview, in person, by phone or by video
• Going to a job fair and talking to employers

Counts in many states as a “work search activity”

• A workshop or class at an American Job Center or workforce office
• Meeting with a career counselor or job coach
• Creating or updating your resume on a job board or your state’s job bank
• Going to a job club or networking event
• Registering with a staffing agency or school placement office
• Taking a skills test for a job
• Checking in with your union hiring hall, if you are a union member

States that use the word activities often count these. States that say employer contacts often don’t, or only count one a week.

Usually doesn’t count

• Applying to the same employer for the same job again in the same week
• Only looking at job listings without applying or contacting anyone
• Contacts you can’t give any details for, like an employer with no name or no way to reach them
• Jobs you aren’t able to take, or that you turn down on purpose to keep benefits

Make every contact count

Write down the details the day you do it: the date, the employer’s name, an address, phone number or website, the person you talked to, how you contacted them, the job, and what happened. If your state checks a week, it may call the employer. A contact it can’t check may not count.

How states differ

Count only employer contacts: Alabama, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia.

Count other work search activities too: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

A mix (for example, some must be employer contacts and the rest can be activities): Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island.

Every state page lists its own rules: pick your state.

Questions

Does applying online count as a work search?

Yes, in every state we checked. Keep the confirmation email or a screenshot, since an online application leaves no paper trail on the employer’s side unless you save one.

Does a job fair count as a job contact?

In most states, yes. Some count the job fair as one activity. Others let you count each employer you talked to there. Write down every employer’s name.

Does networking count?

Many states count networking events and contacting people about job leads as a work search activity. States that only count employer contacts usually don’t. Check your state’s page.

Can I contact the same employer twice in one week?

Usually it only counts once. Some states let you count it again if you apply for a different job, or after a few weeks have passed.

Do I have to apply for jobs that pay less?

Most states expect you to look for work you can do, and over time to widen your search. The rules on suitable work and pay differ by state. If a notice tells you to change your search, follow it.

myjobcontacts is not a government website and this is not legal advice. Rules change, and your own claim notice or letter is what counts. If something here doesn’t match what your state told you, follow your state.