Important Work Search Requirements

Work search is a federal requirement and claimants must be able, available, and actively looking for work to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Unless exempted by the department, you are required to make a minimum of two different work search contacts every week to qualify for benefits. You will need to keep a log of: 

  • the date of your contact, 
  • the type of work it was, 
  • the employer’s name, the person, or website address, 
  • the type of contact and contact information (such as a phone number or web address), and 
  • what was the result of your contact. 

You can log into your online account through the Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims system at www.jobs.state.nm.us, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have any questions, Customer Service Agents in the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center (1-877-664-6984) are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If you need assistance looking for work and making your work search contacts, take advantage of all of the services and resources available in the New Mexico Workforce Connection Online System (www.jobs.state.nm.us). Use the “Resume Builder” and the “Virtual Recruiter” to start looking for jobs and matching with employers who have jobs posted in the system.

If you would like to work with the New Mexico Workforce Connection staff on your employment and career goals, you can contact the New Mexico Workforce Connection center anywhere in the state by finding a center nearest to you on the Office Locations page.

All work search activities must be verifiable and documented. NMDWS may occasionally ask claimants for a record of their work search activity. Claimants must keep a detailed log of their work search activity recording the date and details of the work search. NMDWS can request this activity log anytime during their benefit year. Records should be kept for up to 5 years.

Resources

 

 

Acceptable Work Search Activities

Unemployment insurance benefits are not intended as a replacement for a job, but a temporary benefit to help workers until they can resume employment. Work search requirements mean that claimants must show an active effort to obtain new employment to continue benefits. As long as a claimant completes work searches, unemployment benefits will continue for as long as the claimant is eligible or until the end of the benefit program. However, if a claimant receives an offer of suitable work, they must accept the offer unless there is a good cause reason not to.  

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions has determined that acceptable work search activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Searching for jobs on www.jobs.state.nm.us and using the Virtual Recruiter tool to receive alerts about new jobs that match your skills
  • Applying for a job for which you are reasonably qualified.
  • Interviewing for a job for which you are reasonably qualified.
  • Taking a skills assessment required as part of the application process for a new job for which you are reasonably qualified.
  • Contacting an employer, who you reasonably believe may have available suitable work, to inquire as to whether the employer is hiring.
  • Being referred to a job by a state workforce center or other entity which provides similar services.
  • Adding a resume to an online job board.
  • Mailing a job application and/or a resume as instructed by a public job notice
  • Creating a reemployment plan with a state workforce center or other entity which provides similar services.
  • Engaging in documented use of online career tools.
  • Participating in reemployment services at a state workforce center or other location where such similar services are provided.
  • Participating in state-sponsored or other professional job-related education or skills development.
  • Creating a user profile on a professional networking website.
  • Participating in work-related networking events such as job clubs or job fairs, or employment-related workshops
  • Taking advantage of reemployment services and resources available at your nearest New Mexico Workforce Connection Center with a Career Consultant. For more details, contact your local Workforce Connection Center. Reemployment resources include:
  • Obtaining and using labor market information
  • Participating in reemployment services designed for job seekers
  • Participating in skill assessments for occupational matching
  • Participating in instructional workshops, such as resume preparation and enhancement, job-search techniques, and interviewing skills

Please note that just calling a New Mexico Workforce Connection office without obtaining any services does not count as a work search.

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