The weekly work search rule in North Carolina
Reach out to at least 3 job contacts each week and apply for jobs that fit your skills. One of the 3 can be a reemployment activity. You must also register with NCWorks.gov. Start the week you apply for benefits.
Enter each work search contact in your MyNCUIBenefits account before you file your weekly certification. For each one, give the date, the company or activity name and how you made contact (with the address, phone, email or employer's main website). The weekly certification also asks questions about your work search.
File and certify on the North Carolina Division of Employment Security site. The rules can change, so check DES's work search page if a letter from them says something different.
| North Carolina rule | |
|---|---|
| Each week | Reach out to at least 3 job contacts each week and apply for jobs that fit your skills. One of the 3 can be a reemployment activity. You must also register with NCWorks.gov. Start the week you apply for benefits. |
| How you report it | Enter each work search contact in your MyNCUIBenefits account before you file your weekly certification. For each one, give the date, the company or activity name and how you made contact (with the address, phone, email or employer's main website). The weekly certification also asks questions about your work search. |
| Enter each activity online | Yes, each activity goes into the state system |
| Keep records | MyNCUIBenefits stores what you enter. DES recommends you save your own copy for two years. DES may check or ask to see your work search records for up to 5 years after you file a claim. |
| Agency | North Carolina Division of Employment Security |
Source: North Carolina Division of Employment Security (www.des.nc.gov), checked 2026-10-20.
What counts as a work search activity in North Carolina
North Carolina Division of Employment Security lists these:
- Submitting a job application, resume or letter of interest
- An in-person meeting or interview with an employer, including at job fairs or by video
- Sending an email to an employer
- Your first registration with NCWorks.gov (counts once)
- One reemployment activity a week, such as training, workshops, career counseling, skills assessments, job clubs, networking groups or career fairs
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 North Carolina
If you want to train for a new job, WIOA can pay for approved training if you qualify. See how WIOA works in North Carolina.