Connecticut Work Search Requirements
The unemployment compensation law states that most unemployed workers must make reasonable efforts to find employment each
week. While the law does not specify what number of efforts to find work you must make each week, courts have generally said that
an unemployed person who makes at least three employer contacts on two different days in a week has made reasonable efforts to
obtain work during that week. Repeat contacts are not considered to be reasonable unless there is a definite reason to believe
returning to the same employer would increase your chances of being hired.
Keeping a weekly record of your job search activities is important. You may be randomly selected either for a review by the
American Job Center of your unemployment eligibility or for a random audit of your unemployment claims by the Labor Department’s
Benefit Accuracy Measurement (BAM) program. In both cases, you will be expected to provide a log of your job search activities for the
week that is being reviewed, including any out of state efforts to find work. Failure to provide this information could result in a
retroactive denial of benefits for that week, and you would be liable to repay the benefits you received. For your convenience, you may
use the work search log provided by the Labor Department.
You should look for and apply for jobs that you are qualified to do and use methods that are most likely to bring your skills to the
attention of a prospective employer and increase your chances of being hired. Some examples of suitable ways to search for work
include:
Sending out resumes
Networking
Internet-based websites
Newspapers and periodicals
In-person
Cold calling