California Unemployment Checklist: Weekly Work Search Rules, Excel Log and Documents to Gather

Who it is for

People claiming unemployment in California who need to keep a weekly work search record for Employment Development Department (EDD), and family members helping them stay organized.

Not the right fit if

You claim unemployment in a state other than California, or you need help with a denied claim or an appeal: this organizes the weekly work search record and doesn't advise on eligibility.

Why it is different

• Built only from our California work search data file, checked November 2026 against 2 official pages: EDD: Unemployment eligibility requirements; EDD: Job seekers, returning to work.
• 4 items the official pages didn't state are printed as "Not confirmed — check" with the agency's page, never guessed.
• The Excel summary counts your activities each week, recalculating with zero formula errors.

What is inside

• California weekly work search log (Excel). A log with the columns Employment Development Department (EDD) asks for (Date, Employer or organization), a weekly summary that counts your activities and a documents checklist.
• Start here: California filing and work search steps. The 7 facts Employment Development Department (EDD)'s pages confirm, each with its source and check date, and 4 marked "Not confirmed — check": weekly number of work search activities, official list of activities, official log form, how the week is counted. How to report: You certify every two weeks, online, by phone or by mail. Answer Yes to 'Did you look for work?' if you completed qualifying activities; answering No leads to more questions and possibly an eligibility interview. Activities California counts: preparing, such as creating a CalJOBS account and uploading your résumé; networking; applying for jobs with employers who are likely to have openings; permissible training. Records: EDD encourages you to document your efforts and suggests keeping a record of your job search dates and contacts in case it contacts you about your eligibility. It doesn't say for how long. Job bank: CalJOBS (registration required). Who may not have to search, per the agency: A job offer for work that will begin soon; A temporary layoff with a return to work within 30 days; state-approved training; an employer's Work Sharing program.
• Documents to gather. A checklist of the papers a claim usually asks for (IDs, employer names and dates, pay records, separation papers), with space for anything California's application adds.
• Printable weekly work search log. A paper version of the log with California's columns, one week per page, for claimants who prefer to write it down.