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Guide · Open source

How to use career-ops: install, score jobs and apply

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

career-ops is an open-source AI job search agent that runs inside an AI coding CLI such as Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode. It scans job boards, scores each listing from 1 to 5 against your CV, and helps tailor an ATS-friendly resume and cover letter. This guide shows you how to set it up, run it on a job, and what to expect, so you can decide whether it fits your search.

career-opscareer-ops-hq/career-ops · ★ 79.4k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Check prerequisites. Make sure Node.js is installed and that you have an AI coding CLI such as Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode set up.
  2. 2Run the init command. Run npx @santifer/career-ops init to initialize career-ops.
  3. 3Open your AI CLI. Start career-ops inside the AI coding CLI you already use.
  4. 4Paste one job posting. Give the tool a single listing you are considering and let it check that it is still open.
  5. 5Read the score. Review the 1-5 fit score and evaluation before deciding to apply.
  6. 6Tailor and submit. Generate a tailored resume and cover letter for listings you want, review them, then press Submit yourself.

What you need before you install career-ops

career-ops has two prerequisites. You need Node.js, because npx is used to run the init command. You also need an AI coding CLI such as Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode, since the tool runs inside one of them rather than as a standalone app.

  • Node.js (for npx)
  • An AI coding CLI such as Claude Code, Codex, or OpenCode

Install career-ops with the init command

Initialize career-ops by running the command from the project README. The README lists this as the setup step, and it is the only install command given in the source.

npx @santifer/career-ops init

Score a job listing before you apply

The core workflow is to paste one job posting into the tool. According to the README, career-ops checks whether the posting is still open and whether it fits your background. It scores each listing from 1 to 5 against your CV, so you can skip weak matches before spending time on a full application.

Use the score as a filter, not a verdict. The README describes the output as an evaluation with a plan or a recommendation not to apply.

  • Paste the full job posting into the AI CLI session
  • Check whether the listing is still live
  • Read the 1-5 score and the evaluation report
  • Decide whether to apply based on the fit

Tailor your resume and cover letter

For listings you decide to pursue, career-ops can tailor an ATS-friendly resume and draft a cover letter for that specific posting. It also drafts answers to application questions, according to the README.

Review every draft before you use it. The tool rewrites your CV, so check that the facts, dates and wording are still accurate.

  • Tailored, ATS-friendly resume for a specific posting
  • Draft cover letter
  • Drafted answers to application questions

Apply, track and prepare for interviews

career-ops helps fill in each application, but you press Submit yourself. The README is explicit that the tool is not an auto-submitting bot. It also includes interview prep and a job application tracker, so you can keep your applications in one place.

Your CV and data stay on your own machine, as the project describes its local-first design.

  • The tool fills in applications; you press Submit
  • Interview prep is included
  • A job application tracker records your applications

What people use it for

  • Filtering a long list of job postings so you only spend time on the strongest matches
  • Tailoring a resume and cover letter to specific postings you plan to apply for
  • Preparing for interviews with the built-in interview prep
  • Keeping track of applications in one job application tracker

Frequently asked questions

Is career-ops free?

career-ops is described as a free, MIT-licensed tool. The project also says it is free for candidates. Check the repository's licence file for the full terms.

What do I need to run career-ops?

You need Node.js, because npx runs the init command, and an AI coding CLI such as Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode. The tool runs inside that CLI.

Does career-ops submit job applications automatically?

No. career-ops helps fill in each application, but the README says you press Submit yourself. It is not a fully automatic bot.

Is career-ops safe for my CV?

The project says it runs locally on your machine and keeps your CV and data there. You still choose what to paste in and review every rewrite before you send it.

How is career-ops different from AIHawk or JobSpy?

Comparable projects include Jobber, AIHawk and JobSpy. career-ops focuses on scoring listings 1-5 against your CV and tailoring documents inside an AI coding CLI. Compare the feature lists of each project to pick the one that fits your workflow.

Can I use career-ops without a paid AI model?

The README links to a page on free and local models, titled RUNNING_ON_A_BUDGET. Read that page to see which setups it covers.

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Our verdict

career-ops suits job seekers who apply to many listings, already use Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode, and want to filter jobs and tailor documents while keeping their data local. It is not a good fit if you want a bot that submits applications for you, if you do not have an AI coding CLI set up, or if you are uncomfortable with an AI tool rewriting your CV.

Install options & downloads