Work search logs for unemployment

Veterans’ corner
by Steve Gagnon
    While processing work search logs for the Unemployment Office over the weekend, I noticed there were quite a few people who did not seem to understand what information this form was asking of them or how to actually use this form to record their work search efforts. Since I want my Aroostook County Veterans to be the best informed in the State, I thought I would share some of my insight with you.
    First a little history; the Work Search Log, ME Form B-101, first came into being when the internet and the automated phone system became available for filing weekly unemployment claims. It’s asking for the same information you used to provide on your weekly paper claim card.
    How it works. This form is setup to record five weeks of work searches. When you look at it, you’ll notice it has 15 lines provided for you. So, what that means is that the friendly folks at the Unemployment Insurance (UI) office expect you to record at least three work searches per week and that the form will last you five weeks. At the end of five weeks, the folks at UI will send you a blank replacement work search log along with a request for that completed work search log in the form of a questionnaire. Simple enough, right?
    Now, let’s talk about what you need to record on these logs. The form is broken up into six columns of information:
    The first column “Date of Contact” wants to know the date you contacted that employer either my mail, e-mail, fax, Internet, in-person, phone and so on. Date of contact should look like something like this “Apr 8, 09” or “04/08/09”. It’s important to list the DAY of contact so UI can match it up with the benefit week that you’re filing for.
    The second column “Name and Address of Employer Contacted” should have the business name of the employer as well as the city and State for example: “Veteran Friendly Co., Ashland, ME”.
    The third column “Name/Title of Person Contacted” can sometimes be a bit confusing to some people. IF you have person’s name to put here, that’s terrific, but if you don’t have a name, then it’s perfectly acceptable to list that person’s title, for example: “Jim Reed” or “Owner” or “HR Dept” or “Secretary” or… you get the picture.
    The fourth column “Type of Work You Applied For” is just that, but keep it simple, i.e., “Secretary” or “Laborer” or “Carpenter” or “Plumber” or “Teller” or… and so on.
    The fifth column “How the Job Contact was Made” can also be a bit confusing to some. In this area simple is best and there are basically three methods you should use; In-Person, Resume or Phone. Let’s break them down.
In-Person is just that, you physically visited an employer, asked if they were hiring and if they were, filled out a company application.
    Resume is just that as well, a resume. Write the word resume in here, if that’s what you used to apply for a position. How that resume got to that employer, i.e., mail, fax, email, attached to an online application, is not really relevant. The fact you provided a resume is what’s important.
    Phone searches should be kept to an absolute minimum and only used as a last resort. Really, you should never have more than one phone search in any given week, if any.
    The sixth and last column “Result of Contact” should be kept real simple as well. Basically, if an employer accepts your application or resume and has it on file, then the ‘Result of that Contact’ is simply “Pending”, waiting for them to contact you. On the other hand, if you go somewhere and the employer says, “No, we’re not hiring at this time”, then write in “Not Hiring”.
    Do as many work searches as you want or can do in any given week, but should record no more than 3 per week on your log, so you won’t run out of space before your 5th week arrives or is completed.
    One last bit of advice … and this is important; don’t forget to sign the form!
    Steve Gagnon has over 11 years’ of state government experience having worked with the Unemployment Office, the Reemployment Eligibility Assessment Program as well as providing services as a CareerCenter Consultant.