Appeal deadline questions after an unemployment denial, sales associate here

My claim was denied after 18 weeks of waiting, and the letter says I have a short window to appeal. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. My employer's version of events does not match mine, and I have emails that show it. If you have appealed before, what helped you prepare?

File the appeal before the deadline, even if you are unsure. You can gather documents afterwards. That is the one part I would not wait on.

Stay calm and stick to facts. Mine lasted about thirty minutes and felt more like a conversation than a trial.