**If you suspect that your personal information has been stolen and/or if you received a 1099-G tax form from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and did not apply for unemployment benefits, we need to hear from you immediately.**

Click here to report Identity Theft

Tasks & information for unemployment benefits recipients.

Before Week 4.

Create a profile on OhioMeansJobs.com.

When you applied for unemployment compensation, you were asked questions so we could automatically register you on OhioMeansJobs.com. To make sure we set up your account properly, we'll ask you for the OhioMeansJobs.com username and temporary password sent to you in two separate notices from the Office of Unemployment Insurance Operations.

Correspondence can be sent to you in two ways:

• Email from OJI@odjfs.state.oh.us
• United States Postal Service (USPS)

You will need to change the temporary password to one of your choice. Follow the instructions and keep the notices for future reference.

Next, you’ll be asked some simple questions about yourself. Your answers will be used to create your online profile. You can store your resumes, job search results, assessments, career plans, etc.

It's OK if you don't have an email address, but we strongly encourage you to have one. This will make it easier for us to send you weekly job leads, and easier for employers to get in touch with you.

Required BY Week 4.

Create or upload your own active resume.

When we created your OhioMeansJobs.com account, we posted a temporary resume on your behalf.

You have four weeks to create or upload a new resume containing a more detailed work history.

• If you already had an active OhioMeansJobs.com account with an active resume, you have already met this requirement.
• You must complete this task within four weeks of filing your application in order to remain eligible for benefits (unless your work search and reemployment activity requirement has been waived). 
• See your “New Claim Instruction Sheet” for your deadline date.

If you don’t have a resume, you can use the OhioMeansJobs “Resume Builder” to create one. You can even choose to have your resume rated so you can see how to make it better. 

Whether you upload an existing resume or build a new one, be sure to mark it “Active” not “Inactive".

To get started managing your resume, click on “Sign-in or Create an OMJ Account” on the right. You can always access your resume and account history from your profile.

Required BY Week 8.

Create a career profile.

Answer a few questions about your likes and dislikes, and you’ll get a report showing the kind of work that may suit you best. Then you can search for potential careers based on your results.

You must complete this assessment within 8 weeks of filing your application in order to remain eligible for unemployment benefits. 

Unless your work search and reemployment activity requirement has been waived.

See your “New Claim Instruction Sheet” for your deadline date.

Take the career profile self-assessment. 

When your benefits end.

Still looking for work? Make sure we have your email address.

If you haven't already, make sure you have a valid email address on file with your OhioMeansJobs account. If you do not have a valid email address on file with us after your benefits end, your account will be deactivated. You can enter or change your email address from the "Account Settings" page.

Other activities that will meet your Weekly Work Search Requirements.

For Unemployment Insurance (UI) through OhioMeansJobs.com

Federal and state law requires individuals who are receiving unemployment benefits to actively search for suitable work each week that they file for benefits.  

How people search for work and secure employment in today’s labor market is different from how it was done in the past, due to advances in technology and changing labor markets.  Ohio requires unemployment claimants to meet their weekly active search for suitable work requirements by conducting two (2) work search activities each week and providing documentation/information about the work search activity on each weekly claim filed.  

Examples of acceptable work search activities include, but are not limited to the following:  

• Making an application for work  
• Submitting a resume to an employer  
• Completing your Reemployment Services & Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) activities assigned  
• Creating and maintaining a reemployment plan in OhioMeansJobs.com
• Completing a career profile in OhioMeansJobs.com  
• Attending a job fair  
• Creating a personal user profile on a professional networking site
• Interviewing for work
• Attending a training  

Get out there!

• Complete your core practice assessments. The Core Assessment Practice Tests for mathematics, reading, and locating information measure real-world skills and can help identify careers that match your skills and interests.
• Use our job search tools to help you find jobs that interest you. You can save entire job searches or individual job postings that you’d like to apply to. Mark them as "Applied" after you apply. 
• Set up a career plan. Career Plans will help you set career goals and stick to them. Select the occupation you want, add career activities to your recommended activities, and set deadlines for yourself to stay on track. 
• Use our budget calculator. Total your monthly expenses and find out the salary you’ll need to pay those expenses comfortably. You’ll also get a list of occupations that pay that salary, ranked in order of demand.

If you have questions about any of the above requirements, contact your processing center at the toll-free number listed on your "New Claim Instruction Sheet."