Illinois Department of Employment Security requires 3 documented work search contacts per week beginning with your first payable week. Since Illinois has no waiting week, work search begins in week one. IDES audits work search records and can deny benefits for weeks where contacts were insufficient or cannot be verified. Keep a detailed log of every contact from the first day you become unemployed and certify for Illinois benefits.
- Illinois requires 3 job contacts per week starting from week one of your claim — there is no waiting week exemption from work search.
- Keep a work search log with employer name, position, date, contact method, and outcome for every contact.
- Workers in approved Illinois training programs may qualify for a work search exemption — verify with IDES before assuming you are exempt.
Always verify exact numbers, deadlines, and forms on the Illinois Department of Employment Security's official website – this page provides general guidance, not state-specific legal advice.
What IDES Counts as a Valid Work Search Contact
Illinois accepts the following as valid work search contacts:
- Submitting a job application online, by email, in person, or by mail to a specific employer for a specific position
- Attending a job interview (counts for the week it occurs)
- Registering with and actively participating in a staffing or employment agency
- Visiting an Illinois WorkNet center and using their job placement services
- Making direct contact with an employer's HR or hiring manager about open positions
Browsing job boards, saving job listings, or updating your resume without making contact with a specific employer does not count. Each contact must be documented with a specific employer for a specific position.
How to Maintain a Work Search Log
Record for each contact:
- Date of contact
- Employer name and contact information
- Specific job title applied for or inquired about
- Method of contact
- Name of person contacted, if any
- Any response or follow-up
Save confirmation emails, application receipts, and any employer correspondence. IDES audits can happen at any time and can request documentation for specific weeks in your benefit period — sometimes months after those weeks. Reconstructed records are harder to verify than contemporaneous documentation.
Illinois WorkNet and Work Search Integration
IDES requires claimants to register with Illinois WorkNet (illinoisworknet.com), the state's job matching and career services network. Using Illinois WorkNet — attending workshops, working with career counselors, or connecting with employers through their platform — can generate contacts that count toward your 3-per-week requirement. Illinois WorkNet also offers resume assistance, job fairs, and training resources that can accelerate reemployment.
Exemptions from Work Search
Illinois waives work search requirements for claimants on temporary layoff with a definite recall date within 6 weeks. IDES may also waive the requirement for claimants in approved training programs under IDES's training provisions. These exemptions are not automatic — you must notify IDES of your circumstances and receive explicit confirmation of the exemption. If you have a recall date, provide it to IDES when filing; if you start training, contact IDES before your next certification to confirm the waiver applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Illinois's work search requirement start in week one, or is there a grace period because there's no waiting week?
- Work search in Illinois begins in week one — the same week you become unemployed and are eligible for benefits. Illinois's elimination of the waiting week means your first week is payable, and it also means work search applies from the first payable week. Some claimants assume that because there is no waiting week, there is also a grace period for work search — this is incorrect. IDES requires 3 contacts per week starting immediately. Keep a work search log from the first week you are out of work.
- What are Illinois WorkNet centers, and do visits count toward my work search requirement?
- Illinois WorkNet is the state's network of workforce development centers (illinoisworknet.com), operated through partnerships between IDES and local workforce investment boards. These centers provide job listings, resume workshops, career counseling, computer access for job searching, and job fair connections. Specific Illinois WorkNet services — meeting with a career counselor, participating in a job search workshop, or receiving employer referrals — can count toward your weekly 3-contact requirement. Simply visiting to use a computer does not count without documented service participation. Many Illinois claimants combine Illinois WorkNet visits with direct employer applications to meet the 3-contact standard.
- I'm on temporary layoff from my Illinois employer and they've given me a recall date 4 weeks away. Do I still need to do 3 work searches per week?
- Illinois waives the work search requirement for claimants on temporary layoff with a definite recall date within 6 weeks. You need to notify IDES of the temporary layoff status and provide the recall date when you file your claim. IDES will note the exemption on your account. If the recall date extends beyond 6 weeks, you become subject to regular work search requirements. When you certify during the temporary layoff period, IDES Online will reflect the work search waiver on your account — you should not check the "3 contacts completed" box for weeks that are covered by the exemption. If IDES does not automatically reflect the waiver, contact them at 800-244-5631 to confirm it is on record.
- IDES is auditing my Illinois work search records for several weeks ago. What should I submit?
- Submit your work search log entries for the weeks in question, along with supporting documentation: application confirmation emails, job posting URLs, email correspondence with employers, or any other record that shows the contact actually occurred. IDES auditors compare your log against verifiable records — employers, posting dates, company existence. For contacts you cannot independently verify (a phone call without follow-up email, an in-person visit with no receipt), include a detailed written account: who you spoke with, what was discussed, and the employer's name and address. Honest, specific accounts are treated more credibly than incomplete or vague ones. Respond to the audit letter within the stated deadline — late responses can result in an automatic denial of the audited weeks.
- I'm attending an Illinois community college program while receiving unemployment benefits. Does school count as work search?
- Attending school does not automatically satisfy work search requirements. Whether your education counts depends on whether IDES has approved you for training under Illinois's training provisions. If IDES approves you for training, work search may be waived during training weeks. If you enrolled in school without IDES approval, you still need to complete 3 work search contacts per week — in addition to attending class. The distinction is important: self-directed education and IDES-approved training have very different eligibility implications. Contact IDES at 800-244-5631 before starting a training or education program to ask about approval and work search waiver status for your specific situation.