IDES is expanding its enforcement of an existing registration requirement for employment services to help you find a job more quickly.
Below are frequently asked questions (FAQs). (Printable form: English)
The employment service registration requirement is an existing legal requirement for individuals who have applied for Unemployment Insurance benefits. In Illinois, claimants register with the employment service online at www.IllinoisJobLink.com.
A complete Employment Service registration will help expand job-search resources for you, including free job postings, recruiting, job matches, hiring fairs, workshops, seminars and webinars. It also enables the Department to better track your employment needs and to help identify additional employment services. More information on employment services is available under the www.IllinoisJobLink.com “Resources” tab which you can find by clicking here
If you file a new claim on or after July 17, 2016, and are subject to the registration requirement, Unemployment Insurance benefits will not be paid until your registration with the Illinois Employment Service is complete. If your answers to the questions on your application for Unemployment Insurance benefits indicate you are subject to the registration requirement, you will be prompted to complete your registration by going to www.IllinoisJobLink.com. If your answers indicate you are not subject to the registration requirement, you will not be required to go to www.IllinoisJobLink.com.
To complete the registration requirement you must go to www.IllinoisJobLink.com and log in to create or upload at least one résumé by following steps 1-4. Learn how to Create/Upload a résumé in IllinoisJobLink.com by clicking here.
- Click "Continue" in the orange block
- Answer all questions on the "New résumé Page"
- Create a résumé or upload your existing Microsoft Word résumé, and
- Select "Occupation-Work Wanted"
Your registration will be considered complete when you create or upload at least one résumé. To verify your registration status, log in to www.IllinoisJobLink.com and you will see "UI Registered" in green on the left-hand side of the screen, as it appears here:
Yes. Those who file a new claim on or after July 17, 2016, are subject to the registration requirement and do not immediately complete the registration after applying for benefits will receive a notice by mail with instructions on how to complete the registration and the due date by which the registration must be completed.
If you are required to register and do not do so by the due date, you will not be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits for any week prior to the week in which you complete your registration.
No. You can complete the process from anywhere there is internet access. Individuals who do not otherwise have access to a computer can go to their local public libraries.
As part of the registration process through www.IllinoisJobLink.com, you are required to complete a Job Match Profile. IDES and www.IllinoisJobLink.com use your contact information to alert you about job matches, hiring fairs, workshops, seminars and webinars. Employers actively search on www.IllinoisJobLink.com for résumés with skills, education and work histories that match their job openings. Be sure to include your preferred contact method on the résumé, so that employers can contact you.
No. Individuals who are currently receiving Unemployment Insurance benefits will not need to update their registrations to continue receiving benefits. However, all Unemployment Insurance claimants are encouraged to keep their résumés active and their information up to date so employers can contact them with employment opportunities.