The weekly work search rule in Mississippi
Contact at least 3 employers each week to apply for full-time work (35 hours or more). At least 1 of the 3 must be a completed application or resume sent to the employer. You must also be registered for work with MDES (Mississippi Works). Self-employed and 1099 claimants have the same 3-contact rule.
Enter each employer contact on the Work Search Detail screen when you file your weekly certification online: what you did, how you did it, the date, the company, and the name and phone number of the person you spoke with. You can also file by calling the MDES contact center.
File and certify on the Mississippi Department of Employment Security site. The rules can change, so check MDES's work search page if a letter from them says something different.
| Mississippi rule | |
|---|---|
| Each week | Contact at least 3 employers each week to apply for full-time work (35 hours or more). At least 1 of the 3 must be a completed application or resume sent to the employer. You must also be registered for work with MDES (Mississippi Works). Self-employed and 1099 claimants have the same 3-contact rule. |
| How you report it | Enter each employer contact on the Work Search Detail screen when you file your weekly certification online: what you did, how you did it, the date, the company, and the name and phone number of the person you spoke with. You can also file by calling the MDES contact center. |
| Enter each activity online | Yes, each activity goes into the state system |
| Agency | Mississippi Department of Employment Security |
Source: Mississippi Department of Employment Security (mdes.ms.gov), checked 2026-10-20.
What counts as a work search activity in Mississippi
Mississippi Department of Employment Security lists these:
- Contacting an employer to apply for full-time work by phone, in person, email, fax or online
- Sending a completed application or resume to an employer in person, by mail or electronically
Keep your work search log free
Write down each activity the day you do it: the date, the employer, how you contacted them, the job, and what happened. If the state asks to see your search, the log is your proof.
The free work search log in Capstone Careers keeps it for you: each application you send through Capstone Careers goes on it by itself, you add the ones you do elsewhere, and you can save the week as a PDF.
Need more applications to reach your number? See openings near you and get a resume written for each one.
Training while you are on unemployment in Mississippi
If you want to train for a new job, WIOA can pay for approved training if you qualify. See how WIOA works in Mississippi.