Lots of updates

2026-03-18 23:32:45 -04:00
parent 0e19326bcb
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--- a/.claude/skills/job-search/CRITERIA-CHECKLIST.md
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+# Job Criteria Checklist
+
+Quick reference for evaluating whether a position matches your requirements.
+
+---
+
+## Hard Requirements (Must-Have)
+
+These are non-negotiable. Skip if ANY are missing or violated.
+
+### ✅ Remote Status
+- [ ] 100% remote OR
+- [ ] Work from home (no office required) OR
+- [ ] Async-first with occasional travel
+
+**Skip if:**
+- ❌ "Flexible remote" but office-based
+- ❌ "Remote but HQ in [city]"
+- ❌ "Hybrid" with required office days
+- ❌ Relocation required
+
+---
+
+### ✅ On-Call Status
+- [ ] No on-call mentioned
+- [ ] No pager duty mentioned
+- [ ] No 24/7 support mentioned
+- [ ] No "production ownership" in incident response context
+
+**Skip immediately if:**
+- ❌ "On-call rotation"
+- ❌ "Pager duty"
+- ❌ "24/7 support"
+- ❌ "Incident response team"
+- ❌ "Weekend on-call"
+- ❌ "Production ownership requires on-call"
+
+This is a hard requirement. One mention = reject.
+
+---
+
+### ✅ Salary
+- [ ] Base salary $130K+ (minimum)
+- [ ] Salary is transparent or negotiable
+- [ ] If equity offered: solid base salary (not equity-heavy)
+
+**Check:**
+- [ ] Posted salary is $130K+, OR
+- [ ] Company pays that range for the role, OR
+- [ ] Willing to negotiate to $130K+
+
+**Skip if:**
+- ❌ Salary $120K or below
+- ❌ "Competitive" with no range
+- ❌ Mostly equity, low base
+
+---
+
+### ✅ Role Type
+- [ ] Backend Engineer OR
+- [ ] Platform Engineer OR
+- [ ] Infrastructure Engineer OR
+- [ ] Site Reliability Engineer (if not heavy on-call)
+
+**Skip if:**
+- ❌ Full-stack (unless clear backend focus)
+- ❌ Junior Developer
+- ❌ DevOps only (different focus)
+- ❌ Systems Administrator
+
+---
+
+### ✅ Technology Stack
+- [ ] At least one: Python, Go, Rust, Java, C
+- [ ] REST APIs mentioned or implied
+- [ ] Modern infrastructure tools (Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, etc.)
+
+**Preferred stack:**
+- ✓✓ Python + REST APIs + Kubernetes
+- ✓✓ Go + REST APIs + Kubernetes
+- ✓✓ Rust + REST APIs + distributed systems
+- ✓ Java + REST APIs (learnable from Python)
+- ✓ C + systems programming (learnable)
+- ✓ JavaScript/TypeScript (if full-stack opportunity)
+
+**Skip if:**
+- ❌ Only C++/C# unless very compelling
+- ❌ Only legacy languages (COBOL, Fortran, etc.)
+- ❌ Frontend-heavy with minimal backend
+
+---
+
+## Strong Positives (+1 point each)
+
+### Company & Culture
+- [ ] Explicitly mentions "async-first" or "async culture"
+- [ ] Remote-first company (not traditional company with remote option)
+- [ ] Company founded specifically as remote
+- [ ] Multiple office locations or fully distributed team
+- [ ] Clear communication about work-life balance
+- [ ] "No crunch" or "sustainable pace" mentioned
+
+### Role Quality
+- [ ] Clear role description and responsibilities
+- [ ] Growing engineering team (hiring actively)
+- [ ] Opportunity to learn new tech mentioned
+- [ ] Mentorship or growth path mentioned
+- [ ] Architecture/design work emphasized
+- [ ] API design or system design mentioned
+
+### Compensation & Benefits
+- [ ] Salary at top of range ($180K+)
+- [ ] Equity offered (if profitable/stable company)
+- [ ] Generous vacation/PTO (unlimited or 25+ days)
+- [ ] Professional development budget mentioned
+- [ ] Flexible hours mentioned
+- [ ] Parental leave or family benefits
+
+### Mission & Impact
+- [ ] Mission statement aligns with your values
+- [ ] Company solves real problems (not just hype)
+- [ ] Profitable or well-funded (stability)
+- [ ] Growing rapidly (opportunity for impact)
+- [ ] Social impact or meaningful work mentioned
+
+---
+
+## Red Flags (-1 point each)
+
+### Culture Red Flags
+- [ ] "Startup hustle" or "high energy" mentioned
+- [ ] "Move fast and break things" philosophy
+- [ ] "Startup mentality" emphasized
+- [ ] "On-call is learning opportunity" framing
+- [ ] Heavy emphasis on long hours
+- [ ] "Passionate" mentioned 5+ times
+- [ ] "Rocket ship", "unicorn", "rapid growth" without context
+
+### Role Red Flags
+- [ ] Vague role description
+- [ ] Too many responsibilities (5+ distinct areas)
+- [ ] Heavy on meetings or "collaboration"
+- [ ] Management/mentoring heavily emphasized
+- [ ] "Wear many hats" or jack-of-all-trades
+- [ ] Recent team departures (from research)
+- [ ] High turnover rate (5+ people left in 1 year)
+
+### Compensation Red Flags
+- [ ] Mostly equity, low base salary
+- [ ] "Equity is the real comp" messaging
+- [ ] Salary negotiable only "for right candidate"
+- [ ] Significantly below market ($100K for your experience)
+- [ ] No mentioning of benefits
+- [ ] Unlimited PTO (often means less vacation)
+
+### Company Red Flags
+- [ ] Negative Glassdoor reviews (3.5 stars or below)
+- [ ] Comments about work-life balance issues
+- [ ] Recent major departures or layoffs
+- [ ] Funding running low or burn rate high
+- [ ] Legal issues or regulatory problems
+- [ ] Poor remote culture reviews
+
+### Remote Red Flags
+- [ ] "Remote but in [time zone]" requirement
+- [ ] Occasional "required" office days
+- [ ] "Mostly remote" with unstated expectations
+- [ ] Timezone restrictions
+- [ ] Limited async communication
+- [ ] Heavy emphasis on meetings/sync time
+
+---
+
+## Fit Score Calculation
+
+Use this to score positions 1-10:
+
+### Start at 5 points (baseline)
+
+### Add points for:
+- [ ] +1: Preferred tech stack (Python, Go, Rust)
+- [ ] +1: Explicitly remote-first / async culture
+- [ ] +1: Salary at top of range ($180K+)
+- [ ] +1: Mission alignment (meaningful work)
+- [ ] +1: Strong company fundamentals (profitable, stable)
+- [ ] +1: Team stability (low turnover)
+- [ ] +1: Growth opportunity (learning or advancement)
+- [ ] +1: Excellent benefits (25+ PTO, parental leave, dev budget)
+- [ ] +1: API/system design work mentioned
+- [ ] +1: Architecture/infrastructure focus
+
+### Subtract points for:
+- [ ] -1: Secondary tech stack (Java, JavaScript)
+- [ ] -1: Traditional company with remote option (not remote-first)
+- [ ] -1: Salary below $150K
+- [ ] -1: Mission not aligned
+- [ ] -1: Early-stage startup (high risk)
+- [ ] -1: Team appears to be high-churn
+- [ ] -1: Limited growth opportunity
+- [ ] -1: "On-call" mentioned (ALSO SKIP THIS, hard requirement)
+- [ ] -1: Heavy management expectations
+- [ ] -1: Vague role description
+
+### Final Score
+- **9-10:** Perfect match — Apply immediately
+- **8:** Excellent fit — Apply enthusiastically
+- **7:** Good fit — Apply with customized materials
+- **6:** Okay fit — Apply if meeting quota
+- **5:** Neutral — Consider if other criteria stand out
+- **Below 5:** Skip — Not a good use of time
+
+---
+
+## Quick Evaluation (2 minutes)
+
+Use this if you want to quickly evaluate a position:
+
+```
+1. Remote?              YES / NO → If NO, skip
+2. On-call?             YES / NO → If YES, skip
+3. Salary $130K+?       YES / NO → If NO, skip
+4. Backend role?        YES / NO → If NO, skip
+5. Has Python/Go/Rust?  YES / NO → If NO, maybe skip
+6. Red flags?           YES / NO → If YES, skip
+
+If all ✓ (except #5):
+  → Verify on company site
+  → Add to dashboard
+  → Build resume
+```
+
+---
+
+## Position Evaluation Template
+
+When you find a promising position:
+
+**Basic Info:**
+- Company: _____________
+- Role: _____________
+- Posted: _____________
+- Salary: _____________
+- Link: _____________
+
+**Must-Have Check:**
+- [ ] Remote: YES / NO
+- [ ] On-call: None / Minimal / Mentioned / Mentioned heavily
+- [ ] Salary: $_____ (meets $130K+? YES/NO)
+- [ ] Backend role: YES / NO
+
+**Tech Stack:**
+- [ ] Languages: _____________
+- [ ] Frameworks: _____________
+- [ ] Infrastructure: _____________
+- [ ] Fit: ✓ Preferred / ✓ Acceptable / ✗ Not ideal
+
+**Culture:**
+- [ ] Red flags found: YES / NO
+- [ ] If YES, list: _____________
+- [ ] Strong positives: YES / NO
+- [ ] If YES, list: _____________
+
+**Fit Score:** 1-10 ___
+- [ ] Apply immediately (9-10)
+- [ ] Apply with care (7-8)
+- [ ] Apply if quota allows (6)
+- [ ] Skip (5 or below)
+
+**Decision:** APPLY / SKIP
+**Reason:** _____________
+
+---
+
+## During Application
+
+After you decide to apply:
+
+1. **Use /build-resume** to generate customized materials
+2. **Double-check on-call** in full job description (final check)
+3. **Verify on company site** before submitting
+4. **Log in tracker** with date, company, role, fit score
+5. **Set follow-up reminder** for 1 week after
+
+---
+
+**Last Updated:** March 18, 2026
--- a/.claude/skills/job-search/JOB-BOARDS-TO-SEARCH.md
+++ b/.claude/skills/job-search/JOB-BOARDS-TO-SEARCH.md
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+# Job Board Search Sources
+
+**Purpose:** Comprehensive list of job boards to search when looking for remote backend engineer positions.
+
+**Last Updated:** March 18, 2026
+
+**Strategy:** Search these boards in order. When finding a position, verify it exists on the company's official careers page before applying directly there.
+
+---
+
+## PRIMARY JOB BOARDS (Check Daily/Weekly)
+
+### General Tech Job Boards
+1. **Company Direct Careers Pages** ⭐ THE GOLDMINE
+   - Best for: Roles that never hit job boards
+   - How to: Search "[Company Name] careers" or company-name.com/jobs
+   - Examples: stripe.com/jobs, gitlab.com/careers, zapier.com/jobs
+
+2. **Indeed**
+   - URL: https://indeed.com
+   - Best for: Aggregates across the web, catches hidden roles
+   - Filter: Remote, backend engineer, Python/Go
+
+3. **LinkedIn**
+   - URL: https://linkedin.com/jobs
+   - Best for: World's largest professional network, direct networking
+   - Strategy: See job here, verify on company site, apply directly
+
+4. **Built In**
+   - URL: https://builtin.com/jobs/remote/dev-engineering/
+   - Best for: Startup and high-growth companies
+   - Filter: Remote, backend engineer, Python/Go/Rust
+
+### Remote-Specific Job Boards
+5. **WeWorkRemotely**
+   - URL: https://weworkremotely.com
+   - Best for: Curated, trusted by top remote companies
+   - Focus: Engineering, product, design
+
+6. **RemoteOK**
+   - URL: https://remoteok.com
+   - Best for: Smart filters, salary and time-zone info upfront
+   - Filter: Backend, Python, Golang, remote
+
+7. **DailyRemote**
+   - URL: https://dailyremote.com
+   - Best for: Fresh listings daily
+   - Focus: Design, dev, customer support
+
+### Other Primary Boards
+8. **Cord.co**
+   - URL: https://cord.co
+   - Best for: Companies apply to YOU (passive matching)
+   - Focus: Developers, designers, product managers
+
+---
+
+## SECONDARY JOB BOARDS (Check Weekly/Monthly)
+
+9. **JobServe**
+   - URL: https://jobserve.com
+   - Best for: IT, finance, engineering
+   - Note: Contract roles with less competition
+
+10. **JustRemote**
+    - URL: https://justremote.co
+    - Best for: Time-zone friendly, "anywhere" roles
+
+11. **Totaljobs**
+    - URL: https://totaljobs.com
+    - Best for: Mid-level professionals, advanced filters
+    - Reach: Huge UK presence
+
+12. **Hiring Cafe**
+    - URL: https://hiring.cafe
+    - Best for: Community feel, curated handpicked roles
+    - Vibe: Less corporate, more community-focused
+
+---
+
+## SPECIALIZED BOARDS BY LANGUAGE/TECHNOLOGY
+
+### Python
+- **RemotePython.com** - https://remotepython.com
+- **Python.org Jobs** - https://python.org/jobs
+
+### Go/Golang
+- **Golang.cafe** - https://golang.cafe
+- **GolangProjects** - https://www.golangprojects.com/golang-remote-jobs.html
+
+### Rust
+- **RustJobs.dev** - https://rustjobs.dev
+
+---
+
+## TARGET COMPANIES (Apply Directly to Careers Pages)
+
+### High Priority (Apply Weekly)
+- **Stripe** - https://stripe.com/jobs
+- **GitLab** - https://gitlab.com/careers
+- **Automattic** - https://automattic.com/jobs
+- **Zapier** - https://zapier.com/jobs
+
+### Medium Priority (Apply Monthly)
+- **Cloudflare** - https://cloudflare.com/careers
+- **Vercel** - https://vercel.com/careers
+- **Shopify** - https://shopify.com/careers/search
+- **Twilio** - https://twilio.com/careers
+
+### Growth Companies (Apply As Needed)
+- **Segment** - https://segment.com/careers
+- **Datadog** - https://www.datadoghq.com/careers/
+- **Figma** - https://figma.com/careers
+- **Notion** - https://notion.so/careers
+
+---
+
+## SEARCH CRITERIA (When Searching)
+
+✅ **Must Have:**
+- Remote (100% remote or explicitly remote-eligible)
+- Salary: $120K or higher
+- Backend engineer, platform engineer, or infrastructure engineer roles
+- Technologies: Python, Go, Rust, Kubernetes, REST APIs
+
+❌ **Must Avoid:**
+- On-call rotations
+- Unnecessary meetings culture
+- Hype over substance
+- Positions requiring relocation
+
+---
+
+## HOW TO USE THIS LIST
+
+### Daily Search (5 minutes):
+- [ ] WeWorkRemotely
+- [ ] RemoteOK
+- [ ] Built In
+
+### Weekly Search (15 minutes):
+- [ ] DailyRemote
+- [ ] Indeed (with filters)
+- [ ] LinkedIn (with filters)
+- [ ] Cord.co (check if any match your profile)
+- [ ] Golang.cafe (if interested in Go roles)
+
+### Monthly Search (20 minutes):
+- [ ] Secondary boards (JobServe, JustRemote, Totaljobs, Hiring Cafe)
+- [ ] Specialized boards (RemotePython.com, RustJobs.dev)
+- [ ] Target companies' careers pages (all 4 high priority + 4 medium priority)
+
+---
+
+## WHEN YOU FIND A POSITION
+
+1. **See it on job board** (e.g., RemoteOK, WeWorkRemotely, etc.)
+2. **Go to company website** (e.g., "stripe.com/jobs" or search "[Company Name] careers")
+3. **Find the exact same role on company site** (verify it's real)
+4. **Apply directly on company's careers page** (not through job board)
+5. **Connect with hiring manager on LinkedIn** (mention your application)
+
+---
+
+## NOTES
+
+- **Company career pages** = less competition, direct to hiring team
+- **Job boards** = good for discovery, but apply on company site if possible
+- **Verify everything** = avoid scams and aggregator links
+- **Bookmark these** = check daily/weekly for fresh opportunities
+
+---
+
+## How to Edit This File
+
+Edit this file directly: `/home/paul/Public/resume/JOB-BOARDS-TO-SEARCH.md`
+
+To add a new board:
+1. Add URL and description in the appropriate section
+2. Include best use case
+3. Note any special filters or focus
+
+To remove a board:
+1. Delete the entry
+2. Update the last modified date
+
+---
+
+**Last Verified:** March 18, 2026
+**All URLs Tested:** Yes
+**Status:** Active and current
--- a/.claude/skills/job-search/README.md
+++ b/.claude/skills/job-search/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,298 @@
+# job-search Skill
+
+Find, verify, and track backend engineer job opportunities with quality filtering.
+
+## Files in This Directory
+
+- **skill.md** — Skill definition, job boards, red flags, on-call risks
+- **SEARCH-STRATEGY.md** — Systematic 3-tier search approach and workflows
+- **CRITERIA-CHECKLIST.md** — Evaluation template and fit scoring (1-10)
+- **README.md** — This file
+
+## Quick Start
+
+```
+/job-search [search type]
+```
+
+### Common Commands
+
+**Find positions across boards:**
+```
+/job-search find-positions
+/job-search find-positions golang
+/job-search search-board weworkremotely
+```
+
+**Check if position meets criteria:**
+```
+/job-search check-criteria [job description or URL]
+```
+
+**Verify position on company site:**
+```
+/job-search verify-position [company name and role]
+```
+
+**Track found position:**
+```
+/job-search track-found [company] [role] [URL] [fit-score]
+```
+
+## Your Search Criteria
+
+**Hard Requirements (Skip if Missing):**
+- ✅ 100% Remote (no office required)
+- ✅ No on-call/pager duty
+- ✅ $130K+ salary
+- ✅ Backend engineer role
+- ✅ Python, Go, Rust, or similar
+
+**Red Flags (Auto-Skip):**
+- ❌ On-call/pager duty mentioned anywhere
+- ❌ Non-remote despite "flexible remote" claims
+- ❌ Below $130K salary
+- ❌ Startup hustle culture
+
+---
+
+## 3-Tier Search System
+
+### Daily Search (5 min)
+Focus on new postings on best boards:
+1. WeWorkRemotely
+2. RemoteOK
+3. Built In
+
+### Weekly Search (20 min)
+Broader search + targeted platforms:
+4. LinkedIn
+5. DailyRemote
+6. Indeed
+7. Cord.co
+8. Specialized boards (Golang.cafe, RemotePython.com, etc.)
+
+### Monthly Search (45 min)
+Deep dive into secondary sources:
+- Secondary boards (JobServe, JustRemote, Totaljobs)
+- Target company careers pages (Stripe, GitLab, Automattic, Zapier, etc.)
+- Growth company pages (Cloudflare, Vercel, Shopify, Twilio)
+
+See **SEARCH-STRATEGY.md** for full details with links.
+
+---
+
+## Verification Workflow
+
+Every position must be verified before applying:
+
+1. **Find on job board** (RemoteOK, WeWorkRemotely, etc.)
+2. **Go to company website** (search "[Company] careers")
+3. **Find exact same role** on company careers page
+4. **Verify it's real** (posting date, "Apply Now" button works)
+5. **Check on-call one more time** (final check for red flags)
+6. **Get direct URL** from company site (use for application)
+7. **Apply directly** to company (not through job board)
+
+---
+
+## Fit Scoring
+
+Evaluate each position on a 1-10 scale:
+
+| Score | Action | Notes |
+|-------|--------|-------|
+| 9-10 | Apply immediately | Perfect match, all criteria met |
+| 8 | Apply enthusiastically | Excellent fit, maybe one gap |
+| 7 | Apply with care | Good fit, one technical gap |
+| 6 | Apply if quota allows | Okay fit, some gaps but salvageable |
+| 5 | Consider carefully | Neutral, not compelling |
+| <5 | Skip | Not worth the effort |
+
+Use **CRITERIA-CHECKLIST.md** to calculate fit scores.
+
+---
+
+## Key Requirements Explained
+
+### Remote (100% or Work-from-Home)
+- Not: "Flexible remote" with office base
+- Not: "Hybrid" with required days
+- Yes: Fully distributed team
+- Yes: "Work from anywhere"
+- Yes: "Async-first culture"
+
+### No On-Call
+These phrases = SKIP IMMEDIATELY:
+- "On-call rotation"
+- "Pager duty"
+- "24/7 support"
+- "Production ownership" (in incident context)
+- "Weekend on-call"
+- "Incident response rotation"
+
+This is non-negotiable. One mention = reject.
+
+### $130K+ Minimum
+- Base salary, not total comp
+- Equity is bonus, not replacement
+- Negotiable if company is great fit
+- Non-negotiable if mediocre fit
+
+### Backend Engineer Role
+- Not: Full-stack (unless 80%+ backend)
+- Not: Frontend with "backend knowledge"
+- Not: DevOps (different focus)
+- Not: QA or test engineering
+- Yes: Platform engineer, Infrastructure engineer, SRE (if not heavy on-call)
+
+### Tech Stack
+- **Preferred:** Python, Go, Rust
+- **Acceptable:** Java, C, JavaScript (learnable)
+- **Lower priority:** C++, C# (different paradigms)
+- **Avoid:** Legacy languages only
+
+---
+
+## Integration with Other Skills
+
+### Found a Position?
+Once you've found and verified a position, use the other skill:
+
+```
+/build-resume [paste job description]
+```
+
+This will:
+1. Create customized resume
+2. Generate cover letter
+3. Create job breakdown with strategy
+4. Build PDFs ready to submit
+5. Log application in tracker
+
+### Application Workflow
+```
+Find position → Verify on company site → /build-resume → Apply → Log in tracker
+```
+
+---
+
+## Tools & Files
+
+**In this skill directory:**
+- `skill.md` — Comprehensive skill documentation
+- `SEARCH-STRATEGY.md` — Detailed search workflows
+- `CRITERIA-CHECKLIST.md` — Evaluation template and scoring
+- `JOB-BOARDS-TO-SEARCH.md` — Full board list with all links
+
+**In your project:**
+- `/home/paul/Public/resume/search/` — Search results (local, not committed)
+- `/home/paul/Public/resume/applications/` — Job applications (local, not committed)
+- `/home/paul/Public/resume/job_search.html` — Dashboard of 35+ verified positions
+- `/home/paul/.claude/projects/-home-paul-Public-resume/memory/applications_tracker.md` — Your application log
+
+---
+
+## Search Checklist
+
+### Before Every Search Session
+
+- [ ] Have JOB-BOARDS-TO-SEARCH.md open (for board links)
+- [ ] Know your criteria (remote, $130K+, no on-call)
+- [ ] Have 15-45 min depending on tier (daily/weekly/monthly)
+- [ ] Plan to evaluate positions with CRITERIA-CHECKLIST.md
+
+### During Search
+
+- [ ] Check each board for new postings
+- [ ] Quick filter: Remote? $130K+? Backend role? Tech stack?
+- [ ] Note promising roles in job_search.html
+- [ ] Verify positions on company career pages
+- [ ] Check for on-call language (final check)
+
+### After Search
+
+- [ ] Log verified positions in dashboard
+- [ ] Evaluate fit scores (1-10)
+- [ ] Plan which to apply to this week
+- [ ] Track completed positions in applications_tracker
+
+---
+
+## Success Metrics
+
+**Weekly Goals:**
+- Find: 5-10 positions
+- Verify: 3-5 on company sites
+- Apply: 3-5 quality applications
+- Track: All applications logged
+
+**Monthly Review:**
+- Response rate: How many replies?
+- Interview conversion: How many interviews?
+- Offer rate: Any offers?
+- Adjust strategy if needed
+
+---
+
+## Common Pitfalls to Avoid
+
+❌ **Applying to every position** — Quality > quantity
+❌ **Ignoring on-call mentions** — This is your red line
+❌ **Applying through job boards** — Always apply directly to company site
+❌ **Not verifying positions** — Confirm on company careers page first
+❌ **Applying to anything under $130K** — Stick to your minimum
+❌ **Skipping the verification step** — It takes 2 minutes and saves time
+❌ **Not customizing resumes** — Generic materials have low conversion
+
+✅ **Do this instead:**
+- ✓ 3-5 quality applications per week
+- ✓ Verify every position first
+- ✓ Use /build-resume for customization
+- ✓ Apply directly to company sites
+- ✓ Track everything in applications_tracker
+- ✓ Follow up consistently
+
+---
+
+## Next Steps
+
+1. **Read SEARCH-STRATEGY.md** — Understand the 3-tier system
+2. **Review CRITERIA-CHECKLIST.md** — Learn how to evaluate positions
+3. **Check JOB-BOARDS-TO-SEARCH.md** — See all 12+ boards available
+4. **Do daily search** — 5 minutes on 3 primary boards
+5. **Track positions** — Use /job-search track-found or update job_search.html
+6. **Build resumes** — Use /build-resume for matched positions
+7. **Monitor applications_tracker** — Track dates, follow up at 1 week
+
+---
+
+## Tips for Success
+
+**Search smarter, not harder:**
+- Daily search takes 5 min (just stay aware)
+- Weekly search takes 20 min (find actual positions)
+- Monthly search takes 45 min (deep dive)
+- Total: ~1 hour per week for systematic search
+
+**Batch your work:**
+- Search on Monday
+- Build resumes Tue-Thu
+- Apply on Friday
+- Follow up next Friday
+
+**Use all resources:**
+- Tier 1 boards (daily)
+- Tier 2 boards (weekly)
+- Tier 3 + company pages (monthly)
+- Set email alerts for consistency
+
+**Verify everything:**
+- Before applying, verify on company site
+- Reduces application rejections
+- Improves interview conversion
+- Saves time (2 min verification vs wasted application)
+
+---
+
+**Last Updated:** March 18, 2026
--- a/.claude/skills/job-search/SEARCH-STRATEGY.md
+++ b/.claude/skills/job-search/SEARCH-STRATEGY.md
@@ -0,0 +1,380 @@
+# Job Search Strategy
+
+Systematic approach to finding quality backend engineer positions that match your criteria.
+
+---
+
+## Your Non-Negotiables ✅
+
+**Hard Requirements:**
+- Remote (100% or work-from-home)
+- No on-call/pager duty
+- $130K+ salary
+- Backend engineer role
+- Technologies: Python, Go, Rust (preferred)
+
+**Red Flags = Auto-Skip:**
+- On-call rotation mentioned
+- Pager duty / 24x7 support
+- "Startup hustle" culture
+- Heavy mentoring expectations
+- Not truly remote
+
+---
+
+## Three-Tier Search System
+
+### TIER 1: Daily (5 min)
+
+**Purpose:** Stay aware of new postings, catch great opportunities early
+
+**Boards:**
+1. **WeWorkRemotely** (https://weworkremotely.com)
+   - Filter: Dev Engineering, Remote
+   - Look for: Established companies, explicit remote culture
+   - Why: Curated, trusted companies post here first
+
+2. **RemoteOK** (https://remoteok.com)
+   - Filter: Backend, Python/Go/Rust, Remote, $130K+
+   - Look for: Salary upfront, time zone info
+   - Why: Smart filters, no guessing on salary
+
+3. **Built In** (https://builtin.com/jobs/remote/dev-engineering/)
+   - Filter: Remote, backend engineer, Python/Go
+   - Look for: Startup and scale-up companies
+   - Why: Good quality postings from growth companies
+
+**Action:** 5 minutes, check each board, bookmark promising roles
+
+---
+
+### TIER 2: Weekly (20 min)
+
+**Purpose:** Broader search, check secondary sources, targeted platforms
+
+**Boards:**
+4. **LinkedIn** (https://linkedin.com/jobs)
+   - Filter: Remote, Backend Engineer, $130K+, Mid-Senior level
+   - Setup: Create saved search for notifications
+   - Look for: Direct company postings, recruiter outreach
+   - Why: World's largest network, catches hidden roles
+
+5. **DailyRemote** (https://dailyremote.com)
+   - Filter: Dev, Remote
+   - Look for: Freshly posted daily listings
+   - Why: Curated daily, less saturated than Indeed
+
+6. **Indeed** (https://indeed.com)
+   - Filter: Remote, Backend Engineer, $130K+, Python/Go
+   - Setup: Notification alerts
+   - Look for: Less covered roles, niche companies
+   - Why: Largest job board, catches everything
+
+7. **Cord.co** (https://cord.co)
+   - Just browse your matches
+   - Look for: Companies interested in YOU
+   - Why: Passive matching = less competitive
+
+8. **Language-Specific Boards**
+   - Golang.cafe — https://golang.cafe (if interested in Go)
+   - RemotePython.com — https://remotepython.com (Python focus)
+   - RustJobs.dev — https://rustjobs.dev (Rust focus)
+
+**Action:** 20 minutes, check each board, bookmark 1-3 interesting roles
+
+---
+
+### TIER 3: Monthly (45 min)
+
+**Purpose:** Deep search, check specialized sources, target specific companies
+
+**Secondary Boards:**
+9. JobServe — https://jobserve.com
+10. JustRemote — https://justremote.co
+11. Totaljobs — https://totaljobs.com
+12. Hiring Cafe — https://hiring.cafe
+
+**Target Company Careers Pages:**
+
+**High Priority (Check Weekly):**
+- Stripe — https://stripe.com/jobs
+- GitLab — https://gitlab.com/careers
+- Automattic — https://automattic.com/jobs
+- Zapier — https://zapier.com/jobs
+
+**Medium Priority (Check Monthly):**
+- Cloudflare — https://cloudflare.com/careers
+- Vercel — https://vercel.com/careers
+- Shopify — https://shopify.com/careers/search
+- Twilio — https://twilio.com/careers
+
+**Growth Companies:**
+- Segment — https://segment.com/careers
+- Datadog — https://www.datadoghq.com/careers/
+- Figma — https://figma.com/careers
+- Notion — https://notion.so/careers
+
+**Action:** 45 minutes, check secondary boards and target company pages, find 2-5 promising roles
+
+---
+
+## Filtering Workflow
+
+### Step 1: Title & Location Check (10 seconds)
+```
+Does it say "Backend Engineer" OR "Platform Engineer" OR "Infrastructure Engineer"?
+Is it marked "Remote" or "Work from home"?
+→ If NO to either: Skip immediately
+```
+
+### Step 2: Salary Check (10 seconds)
+```
+Can you see the salary?
+  → If shown: Is it $130K+?
+  → If not shown: Check company size/location clues
+→ If clearly below $130K: Skip
+```
+
+### Step 3: On-Call Check (20 seconds)
+```
+Search job description for:
+  - "on-call"
+  - "pager duty"
+  - "24/7 support"
+  - "production ownership"
+  - "incident response"
+→ If ANY found: SKIP IMMEDIATELY (hard requirement)
+```
+
+### Step 4: Tech Stack Check (20 seconds)
+```
+Does job mention:
+  - Python? Go? Rust? (preferred)
+  - Or Java? C? JavaScript? (acceptable)
+→ If only: C++, C#, .NET, Java only: Lower priority but consider
+→ If only: Frontend-heavy or full-stack: Consider lower
+```
+
+### Step 5: Company & Culture Check (30 seconds)
+```
+Company mission: Does it align with your values?
+Company size: Startup? Scale-up? Established?
+Team size: How many engineers?
+Growth: Profitable? Funded? Stable?
+→ Red flags: "Hustle culture", "startup energy", "move fast/break things"
+```
+
+---
+
+## Verification Process
+
+Found a position that passes filters? Verify it's real:
+
+### 1. Find on Job Board ✓
+- Position found on WeWorkRemotely, RemoteOK, etc.
+- Note the posting date
+- Screenshot or bookmark
+
+### 2. Go to Company Website
+- Search: "[Company Name] careers" in Google
+- Or go directly: company.com/jobs
+- Example: stripe.com/jobs, gitlab.com/careers
+
+### 3. Find the Exact Role
+- Look for same job title and team
+- Verify posting date (not old)
+- Check if "Apply Now" button is active
+- Read full job description for red flags
+
+### 4. Get Direct Application URL
+- Copy the direct link from company site
+- This is what you'll use to apply
+- Save in job_search.html dashboard
+
+### 5. Final On-Call Check
+- Read full job description one more time
+- Search for: "on-call", "pager", "24/7", "incident response"
+- If found: Flag as red, skip application
+- If not found: Proceed to applying
+
+---
+
+## Application Workflow
+
+Once you've found and verified a great position:
+
+### 1. Get Job Description
+- Copy full job description
+- Save it
+
+### 2. Build Resume
+```
+/build-resume [paste job description]
+```
+This creates:
+- Customized resume
+- Customized cover letter
+- Job breakdown with strategy notes
+- PDFs ready to submit
+
+### 3. Apply on Company Site
+- Use direct URL from company careers page (not job board)
+- Submit resume and cover letter
+- Optional: Write personalized cover letter
+
+### 4. Log Application
+- Update `/home/paul/.claude/projects/-home-paul-Public-resume/memory/applications_tracker.md`
+- Record: date applied, company, role, fit score
+- Set reminder for follow-up (1 week)
+
+### 5. LinkedIn Connect
+- Find hiring manager or team member
+- Send connection request with personal note
+- Mention: "Just applied for [Role] at [Company]"
+
+---
+
+## Batch Application Strategy
+
+Research shows **3-5 focused applications per week** is better than:
+- ❌ Applying to 20+ per day (low quality)
+- ❌ Waiting weeks between applications (momentum loss)
+- ✓ 3-5 quality fits with customized materials
+- ✓ Consistent follow-up cadence
+
+### Week 1: Find & Apply
+- Mon: Search, find 3-5 positions
+- Tue-Thu: Build resumes, customize cover letters
+- Fri: Submit all applications
+
+### Week 2: Follow-Up
+- Connect on LinkedIn with 3-5 hiring managers
+- Check email for responses
+- If no response from initial batch: Pursue interviews from interested companies
+
+### Week 3: Build on Interest
+- Interview prep for interested companies
+- Continue search for new positions
+- Repeat cycle
+
+---
+
+## Search Optimizations
+
+### Set Email Alerts
+- Indeed: Daily email for "remote backend engineer $130K"
+- LinkedIn: Weekly digest for saved searches
+- WeWorkRemotely: Weekly job alert email
+
+### Use Advanced Filters
+**Indeed search:**
+```
+(backend engineer OR platform engineer OR infrastructure engineer)
+AND remote
+AND salary:130000
+```
+
+**LinkedIn search:**
+```
+Title: Backend Engineer, Platform Engineer, or Infrastructure Engineer
+Location: On my own terms
+Salary: $130K-$300K
+Experience: Mid-Senior
+```
+
+**RemoteOK search:**
+```
+Skills: Backend, Python, Golang, Rust
+Min Salary: $130,000
+Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
+```
+
+### Customize Searches by Tech
+If you want Python-heavy roles:
+- Add "Django" or "FastAPI" to search
+- Check RemotePython.com weekly
+
+If interested in Go roles:
+- Add "Go" or "Golang" to search
+- Check golang.cafe daily
+
+If interested in Rust roles:
+- Check RustJobs.dev weekly
+
+---
+
+## Tracking & Metrics
+
+### Track These
+- Positions found per week
+- Positions verified
+- Applications submitted
+- Response rate
+- Interview conversion
+
+### Weekly Metric Goals
+- **Find:** 5-10 positions from daily searches
+- **Verify:** 3-5 verified on company sites
+- **Apply:** 3-5 quality applications
+- **Response:** Track replies, interviews, offers
+
+### Save Search Results
+After finding and verifying a position, save to search folder:
+```
+/job-search track-found [company] [role] [URL] [fit-score]
+```
+
+This saves search results to `/home/paul/Public/resume/search/` and updates `/home/paul/Public/resume/job_search.html` with your new position.
+
+---
+
+## Red Flags Checklist
+
+### Skip Immediately If:
+- [ ] On-call/pager duty mentioned
+- [ ] 24/7 support required
+- [ ] "Startup hustle" or "move fast" culture
+- [ ] Non-remote (despite claiming "remote friendly")
+- [ ] Heavy management/mentoring emphasized
+- [ ] No salary transparency
+- [ ] Unclear role responsibilities
+- [ ] Negative Glassdoor reviews about work-life balance
+
+### Yellow Flags (Research More):
+- [ ] Equity-heavy compensation (low base)
+- [ ] Very high meeting culture
+- [ ] Frequent "emergency" incidents mentioned
+- [ ] Rapid team turnover (from research)
+- [ ] Vague about on-call expectations
+
+---
+
+## Tools & Resources
+
+**Files in your project:**
+- `/home/paul/Public/resume/JOB-BOARDS-TO-SEARCH.md` — Complete board list
+- `/home/paul/Public/resume/job_search.html` — Dashboard of 35+ positions
+- `/home/paul/.claude/projects/-home-paul-Public-resume/memory/applications_tracker.md` — Your application log
+
+**Related skills:**
+- `/build-resume` — Build customized resumes and cover letters
+- `job-search` — This skill, for finding and filtering positions
+
+---
+
+## Monthly Check-In
+
+Once per month, evaluate:
+- **Quality:** Are positions good fits?
+- **Quantity:** Finding enough positions?
+- **Success:** Getting interviews? Offers?
+- **Strategy:** Need to adjust boards or search criteria?
+
+Update `JOB-BOARDS-TO-SEARCH.md` (in this skill directory) if:
+- A board is consistently low-quality
+- A board is consistently excellent
+- You discover new boards to add
+
+---
+
+**Last Updated:** March 18, 2026
--- a/.claude/skills/job-search/skill.md
+++ b/.claude/skills/job-search/skill.md
@@ -0,0 +1,320 @@
+---
+name: job-search
+description: Find, verify, and track backend engineer job opportunities across multiple platforms
+type: skill
+arguments:
+  - name: search_type
+    description: "Type of search: 'find-positions', 'verify-position', 'check-criteria', 'track-found', 'search-board', or 'help'"
+    required: false
+output:
+  - positions_found: List of matching opportunities
+  - verification_status: Confirmation that position exists on company careers page
+  - dashboard_update: Updated job_search.html with new positions
+  - tracking_record: Entry in applications_tracker memory
+---
+
+# job-search Skill
+
+Find, verify, and track backend engineer job opportunities with quality filtering.
+
+## Quick Start
+
+```
+/job-search [search type or query]
+```
+
+## Search Types
+
+### Find Positions
+```
+/job-search find-positions [optional: board name or criteria]
+```
+
+Searches across configured job boards for matching roles. Returns:
+- Direct company links
+- Salary when available
+- Remote status
+- On-call/pager duty flags
+
+### Verify Position
+```
+/job-search verify-position [company name and role]
+```
+
+Confirms position exists on company's official careers page:
+- Checks company website directly (not job board)
+- Validates role details
+- Finds direct application URL
+- Warns if position appears to be filled
+
+### Check Criteria
+```
+/job-search check-criteria [position URL or description]
+```
+
+Evaluates position against your requirements:
+- ✅ Remote eligible (100% remote or work-from-home)
+- ✅ No on-call/pager duty
+- ✅ Salary $130K+
+- ✅ Backend engineer role
+- ✅ Preferred tech stack
+
+Returns fit assessment and yellow/red flags.
+
+### Track Found Position
+```
+/job-search track-found [company, role, URL, fit score]
+```
+
+Adds position to job_search.html dashboard:
+- Updates dashboard with new position
+- Logs in applications_tracker memory
+- Sets on-call status based on job description
+- Records fit score (1-10)
+
+### Search Specific Board
+```
+/job-search search-board [board name] [optional: filters]
+```
+
+Searches a specific job board. Examples:
+- `search-board weworkremotely backend engineer`
+- `search-board remoteok python`
+- `search-board builtin golang`
+- `search-board golang.cafe`
+
+---
+
+## Your Search Criteria ✅
+
+**Hard Requirements:**
+- 🌍 Remote (100% remote or explicitly remote-eligible)
+- 💰 Salary: $130K+ (minimum)
+- ⚙️ Backend engineer / Platform engineer / Infrastructure engineer
+- 🚫 NO on-call rotations / pager duty / 24x7 support
+
+**Tech Stack Preferences:**
+- Primary: Python, Go, Rust, Kubernetes, REST APIs
+- Secondary: Java, C, JavaScript (for full-stack opportunities)
+
+**Role Preferences:**
+- Junior to Mid-level (don't emphasize Sr/Staff)
+- Systems programming and backend focus
+- No heavy management/mentoring responsibilities
+
+**Company Preferences:**
+- Meaningful work > hype
+- Sustainable pace (no crunch culture)
+- Async-friendly remote environments
+- Growing companies with real problems
+
+---
+
+## Primary Job Boards (Check Daily/Weekly)
+
+**General Tech:**
+1. Indeed — https://indeed.com
+2. LinkedIn — https://linkedin.com/jobs
+3. Built In — https://builtin.com/jobs/remote/dev-engineering/
+
+**Remote-Specific:**
+4. WeWorkRemotely — https://weworkremotely.com
+5. RemoteOK — https://remoteok.com
+6. DailyRemote — https://dailyremote.com
+
+**Other Primary:**
+7. Cord.co — https://cord.co (passive matching)
+8. JobServe — https://jobserve.com
+
+**Specialized (Language-Specific):**
+9. Golang.cafe — https://golang.cafe
+10. RemotePython.com — https://remotepython.com
+11. RustJobs.dev — https://rustjobs.dev
+
+**Target Companies (Check Monthly):**
+- Stripe: https://stripe.com/jobs
+- GitLab: https://gitlab.com/careers
+- Automattic: https://automattic.com/jobs
+- Zapier: https://zapier.com/jobs
+- Cloudflare: https://cloudflare.com/careers
+- Vercel: https://vercel.com/careers
+- Shopify: https://shopify.com/careers/search
+
+---
+
+## On-Call Risk Flags
+
+Watch for language that indicates on-call:
+- "On-call rotation"
+- "Pager duty"
+- "24x7 support"
+- "Production ownership"
+- "On-call after hours"
+- "Weekend support"
+- "Incident response rotation"
+
+⚠️ Flag for rejection if found.
+
+---
+
+## Verification Workflow
+
+1. **Find position** on job board (RemoteOK, WeWorkRemotely, etc.)
+2. **Go to company website** (e.g., "stripe.com/jobs" or search "Stripe careers")
+3. **Find exact same role** on company site
+4. **Verify it's real** (check posting date, check if hiring)
+5. **Get direct URL** from company careers page
+6. **Apply directly** (not through job board) if it meets criteria
+
+---
+
+## Fit Scoring (1-10)
+
+**10/10** — Perfect match
+- Exact role match, all preferred tech, remote, good salary
+
+**9/10** — Excellent fit
+- One minor gap (e.g., Django experience when you know Python)
+
+**8/10** — Strong fit
+- One technical gap you can learn, but core role matches
+
+**7/10** — Good fit
+- Multiple small gaps, but core skills match and company is good
+
+**6/10** — Okay fit
+- Significant technical gap, or secondary area (e.g., full-stack when backend is preference)
+
+**5-Below** — Pass
+- Major gaps, wrong role type, or red flags
+
+---
+
+## Dashboard & Tracking
+
+**View found positions:**
+- Open `/home/paul/Public/resume/job_search.html` in browser
+- 35+ verified positions with filters and sorting
+- Green (no on-call), yellow (unknown), red (has on-call)
+- Direct links to all postings
+
+**Track applications:**
+- File: `/home/paul/.claude/projects/-home-paul-Public-resume/memory/applications_tracker.md`
+- Log applied positions with dates
+- Update status (applied, interviewing, rejected, offer)
+
+---
+
+## Search Strategy
+
+### Daily (5 minutes)
+- [ ] Check WeWorkRemotely for new postings
+- [ ] Scan RemoteOK with filters (backend, $130K+, remote)
+- [ ] Browse Built In's remote section
+
+### Weekly (15 minutes)
+- [ ] DailyRemote — Fresh listings
+- [ ] LinkedIn — Set custom alerts
+- [ ] Cord.co — Check if matched to profiles
+- [ ] Golang.cafe (if interested in Go roles)
+
+### Monthly (30 minutes)
+- [ ] Secondary boards (JobServe, JustRemote, Totaljobs, Hiring Cafe)
+- [ ] Specialized boards (RemotePython.com, RustJobs.dev)
+- [ ] Target company careers pages (Stripe, GitLab, Automattic, Zapier, Cloudflare, Vercel, Shopify, Twilio)
+
+---
+
+## Common Search Filters
+
+**Indeed:**
+- Location: Remote
+- Job Title: Backend Engineer / Platform Engineer / Software Engineer
+- Salary: $130,000+
+- Keywords: Python OR Go OR Rust
+
+**LinkedIn:**
+- Location: On my own terms
+- Title: Backend Engineer / Platform Engineer / Infrastructure Engineer
+- Salary: $130,000+
+- Experience Level: Mid-Senior
+
+**RemoteOK:**
+- Skills: Backend, Python, Golang, Rust
+- Min Salary: $130,000
+- Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
+
+**WeWorkRemotely:**
+- Category: Dev Engineering
+- Salary: $130,000+
+- Timezone: Any (you handle async)
+
+---
+
+## Red Flags to Avoid
+
+❌ On-call/pager duty language
+❌ "Startup hustle" or "high-energy" (often code for crunch)
+❌ Excessive meeting culture ("fast-paced", "collaborative" without async details)
+❌ Junior mentoring emphasized heavily
+❌ Non-remote with "flexible remote options"
+❌ Equity-heavy compensation (especially if low base)
+❌ Vague role descriptions
+❌ No clear career growth path
+
+---
+
+## Success Checklist
+
+Before considering a position:
+- [ ] Position is 100% remote or explicitly work-from-home
+- [ ] No on-call/pager duty language
+- [ ] Salary at or above $130K base
+- [ ] Role is backend/platform/infrastructure focused
+- [ ] Tech stack matches (Python, Go, Rust preferred)
+- [ ] Company mission aligns with your values
+- [ ] Team structure looks healthy
+- [ ] Position verified on company careers page
+- [ ] Ready to apply directly to company site
+
+---
+
+## File Locations
+
+- **Job boards list:** `JOB-BOARDS-TO-SEARCH.md` (in this skill directory)
+- **Search results folder:** `/home/paul/Public/resume/search/` (local, not committed)
+- **Dashboard:** `/home/paul/Public/resume/job_search.html`
+- **Applications tracker:** `/home/paul/.claude/projects/-home-paul-Public-resume/memory/applications_tracker.md`
+- **Job preferences:** `/home/paul/.claude/projects/-home-paul-Public-resume/memory/user_preferences.md`
+- **Skill directory:** `/home/paul/Public/resume/.claude/skills/job-search/`
+
+---
+
+## Integration with build-resume
+
+Found a great position? Use the other skill:
+
+```
+/build-resume [paste job description]
+```
+
+This will:
+1. Create customized resume and cover letter
+2. Generate job breakdown with strategy
+3. Build PDFs ready to submit
+4. Log application in tracker
+
+---
+
+## Notes
+
+- **Job boards change frequently** — Update JOB-BOARDS-TO-SEARCH.md as you discover new ones
+- **Verify everything** — Always check company careers page before applying through job board
+- **Apply directly** — Less competition when applying to company site vs job board
+- **Track everything** — Log all applications so you can follow up consistently
+- **Batch applications** — Apply to 3-5 positions, then follow up week 1, week 2
+- **Async communication** — Look for companies that explicitly value async work
+
+---
+
+Last Updated: March 18, 2026