WS 5 (01/ 22) Equal Opportunity Program - Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities Page 2 of 2
New York State Department of Labor
Work Search Record Instructions
You must actively look for work while claiming Unemployment Insurance benefits. You must keep a Work Search Record for each week you claim
benefits and be prepared to give a copy of that Record to the New York State Department of Labor when requested. We will check the information on
the form with the contacts listed. If you knowingly give us false statements about your work search activities, it is considered f raud and you may be
denied Unemployment Insurance benefits.
You must do at least three work search activities each week, unless you have a Work Search Plan approved by the Department of Labor.*
You are encouraged to do more.
Work Search Activities: Work search activities may include, but are not limited to:
(1) Use employment resources available at a local Career Center or
through a virtual career center platform provided by the
Department of Labor. Examples include:
(i) meet with Career Center advisors;
(ii) receive job market information from Career Center staff about
jobs in your industry or region;
(iii) complete skills assessments for job matching;
(iv) attend instructional workshops; and
(v) get job referrals from the Career Center and follow up with
employers.
(2) Submit job applications or resumes to employers or former
employers who may have openings.
(3) Attend job search seminars, career networking meetings, job fairs,
or employment-related workshops that offer job-search skills
instruction.
(4) Interview with employers.
(5) Register for, apply f or, or take job-related or pre-hire tests for a
public or private employer. This includes civil service exams.
(6) Register and follow up with private employment agencies,
placement services, unions, and placement offices of schools,
colleges, or universities, or professional organizations.
(7) Use the telephone, business directories, internet, social media, or
online job matching systems to search for jobs, get leads, request
referrals, or make appointments for job interviews.
(8) Any other reasonable activity that may help you become
employed.
Keep copies of your Work Search Records for one year. Do not
send your Work Search Record to the Department of Labor unless
we ask you to. You can get more f orms at your local New York
State Career Center, online at www.labor.ny.gov
or in your
claimant handbook. You may also keep your work search record
online at
www.jobzone.ny.gov.
*If you have a Work Search Plan approved by the Department of
Labor, you must do what was agreed upon in the plan and record
those activities on the Work Search Record. We will check your
Work Search Record to be sure you are doing what is called for
in your Work Search Plan.