Required Work Searches

A requirement to remain eligible for unemployment benefits.

Frequently asked questions and videos for Covid-19 updates to work search requirement

Work searches for non-self-employed employees become part of your weekly certification process Sunday, October 4, 2020.

The video tutorials below provide you step-by-step assistance with reporting your work searches or activities during the weekly certification process.

Work searches become part of your weekly certification process Sunday, October 4, 2020.

The video tutorials below provide you step-by-step assistance with reporting your work searches or activities during the weekly certification process.

Claimants are required to make at least three searches for work each week while drawing unemployment insurance. We have plenty of resources available at your fingertips to help with the work search.

Jobs4TNgov_KJ

Your New Unemployment and Re-Employment Portal
As Unemployment has moved to Jobs4TN, when you sign in, work-searches conducted within your account will now auto-populate into the weekly certification. Keep in mind you still need at least three search attempts to satisfy this requirement.

Searching for Work

Start searching for work immediately after filing your unemployment application. Explore many of the available resources to you in our Job Search section.

Reasonable effort must be made to secure work unless you are returning to your employer in the near future, normally get work through a union, or are enrolled in approved training.

What Counts as a Work Search?

  • Jobs4TN.gov
    • Logging in to your account and searching for jobs
    • Creating resume(s) on your profile
  • Job Applications
    • Completing a job application in-person or online with employers who may reasonably be expected to have openings for work that you can do
    • Mailing a job application and/or resume, as instructed in a public notice
    • Sending job applications to employers who have an open job that you can do
  • Employer Visits
    • Making in-person visits with employers who may have job openings
  • Interviews
    • Interviewing with potential employers in person or by telephone
  • Employment Agency Registration
    • Registering for work with private employment agencies, placement services or hiring unions
  • American Job Center Resources
    • Using the employment resources available at American Job Centers that may lead directly to a job, and Attending job search seminars, career networking meetings, job fairs or employment-related workshops that offer instruction in improving individual skills for obtaining employment

Failure To Comply

Benefits can be stopped if you are not in compliance. Failure to make three valid work searches each week and documenting work searches on Jobs4TN can disqualify you from receiving unemployment benefits. Providing false work search information could result in losing benefits for eight weeks.