Add shared writing style preferences (#240)

* Add shared writing style preferences

* Address PR review feedback

* Add scoring instructions settings

* Polish writing style inputs

* Clarify do-not-use terms guidance

* Normalize blank writing style overrides

* Refactor writing style resolution to use effective values and enhance blank value handling

.codex/environments/environment.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# THIS IS AUTOGENERATED. DO NOT EDIT MANUALLY
+version = 1
+name = "job-ops"
+
+[setup]
+script = ""
+
+[[actions]]
+name = "Run"
+icon = "run"
+command = "cd orchestrator && npm rebuild && npm run db:migrate && csex"

docs-site/docs/features/ghostwriter.md

@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ Global settings affecting generations:
 - `Constraints`
 - `Do-not-use terms`
 
+`Do-not-use terms` are passed as guidance in the prompt. They are not enforced by a hard post-generation filter, so the model should avoid them but may still use them occasionally.
+
 Defaults:
 
 - Tone: `professional`

docs-site/docs/features/settings.md

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ It lets you configure:
 
 - LLM provider and models
 - Webhook destinations and secret
-- Display and Ghostwriter defaults
+- Display and writing-style defaults
 - Service credentials and basic auth
 - Reactive Resume project selection
 - Tracer Links readiness verification
@@ -62,15 +62,18 @@ Settings gives you runtime overrides for the key parts of discovery, scoring, ta
 
 - Toggle visa sponsor badge visibility in job lists/details
 
-### Ghostwriter
+### Writing Style
 
 ![Ghostwriter settings section](/img/features/settings-ghostwriter-section.png)
 
+- Pick a preset for a quick starting point
 - Set global writing defaults:
   - Tone
   - Formality
   - Constraints
   - Do-not-use terms
+- These settings apply to Ghostwriter and resume tailoring
+- Do-not-use terms are model guidance, not a guaranteed output filter
 
 ### Reactive Resume
 
@@ -120,6 +123,7 @@ Readiness requires:
 - Set penalty amount
 - Optional auto-skip threshold for low-score jobs
 - Block jobs from companies that match configured keyword tokens
+- Add custom scoring instructions to tell the AI what to weigh more or less
 
 ### Danger Zone
 

orchestrator/src/client/pages/SettingsPage.test.tsx

@@ -341,4 +341,45 @@ describe("SettingsPage", () => {
       }),
     );
   });
+
+  it("saves scoring instructions from scoring settings", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(api.getSettings).mockResolvedValue(baseSettings);
+    vi.mocked(api.updateSettings).mockResolvedValue({
+      ...baseSettings,
+      scoringInstructions: {
+        value:
+          "Open to relocating, so do not mark down for location discrepancies.",
+        default: "",
+        override:
+          "Open to relocating, so do not mark down for location discrepancies.",
+      },
+    });
+
+    renderPage();
+
+    const scoringTrigger = await screen.findByRole("button", {
+      name: /scoring settings/i,
+    });
+    fireEvent.click(scoringTrigger);
+
+    const textarea = screen.getByLabelText(/scoring instructions/i);
+    fireEvent.change(textarea, {
+      target: {
+        value:
+          "Open to relocating, so do not mark down for location discrepancies.",
+      },
+    });
+
+    const saveButton = screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^save$/i });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(saveButton).toBeEnabled());
+    fireEvent.click(saveButton);
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(api.updateSettings).toHaveBeenCalled());
+    expect(api.updateSettings).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        scoringInstructions:
+          "Open to relocating, so do not mark down for location discrepancies.",
+      }),
+    );
+  });
 });

orchestrator/src/client/pages/SettingsPage.tsx

@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ const DEFAULT_FORM_VALUES: UpdateSettingsInput = {
   missingSalaryPenalty: null,
   autoSkipScoreThreshold: null,
   blockedCompanyKeywords: [],
+  scoringInstructions: "",
 };
 
 type LlmProviderValue = LlmProviderId | null;
@@ -145,6 +146,7 @@ const NULL_SETTINGS_PAYLOAD: UpdateSettingsInput = {
   missingSalaryPenalty: null,
   autoSkipScoreThreshold: null,
   blockedCompanyKeywords: null,
+  scoringInstructions: null,
 };
 
 const mapSettingsToForm = (data: AppSettings): UpdateSettingsInput => ({
@@ -183,6 +185,7 @@ const mapSettingsToForm = (data: AppSettings): UpdateSettingsInput => ({
   missingSalaryPenalty: data.missingSalaryPenalty.override,
   autoSkipScoreThreshold: data.autoSkipScoreThreshold.override,
   blockedCompanyKeywords: data.blockedCompanyKeywords.override ?? [],
+  scoringInstructions: data.scoringInstructions.override ?? "",
 });
 
 const normalizeString = (value: string | null | undefined) => {
@@ -334,6 +337,10 @@ const getDerivedSettings = (settings: AppSettings | null) => {
         effective: settings?.blockedCompanyKeywords?.value ?? [],
         default: settings?.blockedCompanyKeywords?.default ?? [],
       },
+      scoringInstructions: {
+        effective: settings?.scoringInstructions?.value ?? "",
+        default: settings?.scoringInstructions?.default ?? "",
+      },
     },
   };
 };
@@ -799,6 +806,10 @@ export const SettingsPage: React.FC = () => {
             ? null
             : normalized;
         })(),
+        scoringInstructions: nullIfSame(
+          normalizeString(data.scoringInstructions),
+          scoring.scoringInstructions.default,
+        ),
         ...envPayload,
       };
 

orchestrator/src/client/pages/settings/components/ChatSettingsSection.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+import type { UpdateSettingsInput } from "@shared/settings-schema.js";
+import { fireEvent, render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
+import React from "react";
+import { FormProvider, useForm } from "react-hook-form";
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { Accordion } from "@/components/ui/accordion";
+import { ChatSettingsSection } from "./ChatSettingsSection";
+
+vi.mock("@/components/ui/select", () => {
+  const SelectContext = React.createContext<{
+    onValueChange?: (value: string) => void;
+  } | null>(null);
+
+  const Select = ({
+    children,
+    value,
+    onValueChange,
+  }: {
+    children: React.ReactNode;
+    value?: string;
+    onValueChange?: (value: string) => void;
+  }) => {
+    return (
+      <SelectContext.Provider value={{ onValueChange }}>
+        <div>
+          <input readOnly value={value ?? ""} aria-label="select-value" />
+          {children}
+        </div>
+      </SelectContext.Provider>
+    );
+  };
+
+  const SelectContent = ({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) => (
+    <>{children}</>
+  );
+  const SelectItem = ({
+    value,
+    children,
+  }: {
+    value: string;
+    children: React.ReactNode;
+  }) => {
+    const context = React.useContext(SelectContext);
+
+    return (
+      <button type="button" onClick={() => context?.onValueChange?.(value)}>
+        {children}
+      </button>
+    );
+  };
+  const SelectTrigger = ({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) => (
+    <>{children}</>
+  );
+  const SelectValue = () => null;
+
+  return {
+    Select,
+    SelectContent,
+    SelectItem,
+    SelectTrigger,
+    SelectValue,
+  };
+});
+
+const ChatSettingsHarness = () => {
+  const methods = useForm<UpdateSettingsInput>({
+    defaultValues: {
+      chatStyleTone: "",
+      chatStyleFormality: "",
+      chatStyleConstraints: "",
+      chatStyleDoNotUse: "",
+    },
+  });
+
+  return (
+    <FormProvider {...methods}>
+      <Accordion type="multiple" defaultValue={["chat"]}>
+        <ChatSettingsSection
+          values={{
+            tone: { effective: "professional", default: "professional" },
+            formality: { effective: "medium", default: "medium" },
+            constraints: { effective: "", default: "" },
+            doNotUse: { effective: "", default: "" },
+          }}
+          isLoading={false}
+          isSaving={false}
+        />
+      </Accordion>
+    </FormProvider>
+  );
+};
+
+describe("ChatSettingsSection", () => {
+  it("treats blank overrides as unset so preset and selects stay aligned", () => {
+    render(<ChatSettingsHarness />);
+
+    expect(screen.getAllByDisplayValue("professional").length).toBeGreaterThan(
+      0,
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByDisplayValue("medium")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("applies preset values to the writing style fields", () => {
+    render(<ChatSettingsHarness />);
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getAllByRole("button", { name: "Friendly" })[0]);
+
+    expect(screen.getAllByDisplayValue("friendly").length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(screen.getByDisplayValue("low")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      screen.getByDisplayValue(
+        "Keep the response warm, approachable, and confident.",
+      ),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});

orchestrator/src/client/pages/settings/components/ChatSettingsSection.tsx

@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
-import { SettingsInput } from "@client/pages/settings/components/SettingsInput";
+import { TokenizedInput } from "@client/pages/orchestrator/TokenizedInput";
+import {
+  getMatchingWritingStylePresetId,
+  resolveWritingStyleDraft,
+  WRITING_STYLE_PRESETS,
+} from "@client/pages/settings/constants";
 import type { ChatValues } from "@client/pages/settings/types";
 import type { UpdateSettingsInput } from "@shared/settings-schema.js";
 import type React from "react";
-import { Controller, useFormContext } from "react-hook-form";
+import { useState } from "react";
+import { Controller, useFormContext, useWatch } from "react-hook-form";
 import {
   AccordionContent,
   AccordionItem,
@@ -16,6 +22,7 @@ import {
   SelectValue,
 } from "@/components/ui/select";
 import { Separator } from "@/components/ui/separator";
+import { Textarea } from "@/components/ui/textarea";
 
 type ChatSettingsSectionProps = {
   values: ChatValues;
@@ -23,6 +30,21 @@ type ChatSettingsSectionProps = {
   isSaving: boolean;
 };
 
+function parseTokenizedTerms(input: string): string[] {
+  return input
+    .split(/[\n,]/g)
+    .map((value) => value.trim())
+    .filter(Boolean);
+}
+
+function parseStoredTerms(value: string | null | undefined): string[] {
+  return parseTokenizedTerms(value ?? "");
+}
+
+function normalizeBlank(value: string | null | undefined): string | undefined {
+  return value == null || value === "" ? undefined : value;
+}
+
 export const ChatSettingsSection: React.FC<ChatSettingsSectionProps> = ({
   values,
   isLoading,
@@ -30,15 +52,100 @@ export const ChatSettingsSection: React.FC<ChatSettingsSectionProps> = ({
 }) => {
   const { tone, formality, constraints, doNotUse } = values;
 
-  const { control, register } = useFormContext<UpdateSettingsInput>();
+  const { control, register, setValue } = useFormContext<UpdateSettingsInput>();
+  const [doNotUseDraft, setDoNotUseDraft] = useState("");
+  const [toneValue, formalityValue, constraintsValue, doNotUseValue] = useWatch(
+    {
+      control,
+      name: [
+        "chatStyleTone",
+        "chatStyleFormality",
+        "chatStyleConstraints",
+        "chatStyleDoNotUse",
+      ],
+    },
+  );
+  const toneDraft = normalizeBlank(toneValue);
+  const formalityDraft = normalizeBlank(formalityValue);
+  const constraintsDraft = normalizeBlank(constraintsValue);
+  const doNotUseDraftValue = normalizeBlank(doNotUseValue);
+  const resolvedStyle = resolveWritingStyleDraft({
+    values: {
+      tone: toneDraft,
+      formality: formalityDraft,
+      constraints: constraintsDraft,
+      doNotUse: doNotUseDraftValue,
+    },
+    defaults: values,
+  });
+  const selectedPresetId =
+    getMatchingWritingStylePresetId(resolvedStyle) ?? "custom";
+  const doNotUseTokens = parseStoredTerms(
+    doNotUseDraftValue ?? doNotUse.default,
+  );
 
   return (
     <AccordionItem value="chat" className="border rounded-lg px-4">
       <AccordionTrigger className="hover:no-underline py-4">
-        <span className="text-base font-semibold">Ghostwriter</span>
+        <span className="text-base font-semibold">Writing Style</span>
       </AccordionTrigger>
       <AccordionContent className="pb-4">
         <div className="space-y-4">
+          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+            These defaults shape AI-generated writing across Ghostwriter and
+            resume tailoring.
+          </p>
+
+          <div className="space-y-2">
+            <label htmlFor="writingStylePreset" className="text-sm font-medium">
+              Preset
+            </label>
+            <Select
+              value={selectedPresetId}
+              onValueChange={(value) => {
+                if (value === "custom") return;
+
+                const preset = WRITING_STYLE_PRESETS.find(
+                  (item) => item.id === value,
+                );
+                if (!preset) return;
+
+                setValue("chatStyleTone", preset.values.tone, {
+                  shouldDirty: true,
+                });
+                setValue("chatStyleFormality", preset.values.formality, {
+                  shouldDirty: true,
+                });
+                setValue("chatStyleConstraints", preset.values.constraints, {
+                  shouldDirty: true,
+                });
+                setValue("chatStyleDoNotUse", preset.values.doNotUse, {
+                  shouldDirty: true,
+                });
+              }}
+              disabled={isLoading || isSaving}
+            >
+              <SelectTrigger id="writingStylePreset">
+                <SelectValue placeholder="Choose a writing preset" />
+              </SelectTrigger>
+              <SelectContent>
+                {WRITING_STYLE_PRESETS.map((preset) => (
+                  <SelectItem key={preset.id} value={preset.id}>
+                    {preset.label}
+                  </SelectItem>
+                ))}
+                <SelectItem value="custom">Custom</SelectItem>
+              </SelectContent>
+            </Select>
+            <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+              {selectedPresetId === "custom"
+                ? "Your current values are custom."
+                : (WRITING_STYLE_PRESETS.find(
+                    (preset) => preset.id === selectedPresetId,
+                  )?.description ?? "")}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
           <div className="grid gap-4 md:grid-cols-2">
             <div className="space-y-2">
               <label htmlFor="chatStyleTone" className="text-sm font-medium">
@@ -49,7 +156,7 @@ export const ChatSettingsSection: React.FC<ChatSettingsSectionProps> = ({
                 control={control}
                 render={({ field }) => (
                   <Select
-                    value={field.value ?? tone.default}
+                    value={normalizeBlank(field.value) ?? tone.default}
                     onValueChange={(value) => field.onChange(value)}
                     disabled={isLoading || isSaving}
                   >
@@ -79,7 +186,7 @@ export const ChatSettingsSection: React.FC<ChatSettingsSectionProps> = ({
                 control={control}
                 render={({ field }) => (
                   <Select
-                    value={field.value ?? formality.default}
+                    value={normalizeBlank(field.value) ?? formality.default}
                     onValueChange={(value) => field.onChange(value)}
                     disabled={isLoading || isSaving}
                   >
@@ -97,23 +204,54 @@ export const ChatSettingsSection: React.FC<ChatSettingsSectionProps> = ({
             </div>
           </div>
 
-          <SettingsInput
+          <div className="space-y-2">
-            label="Constraints"
+            <label
-            inputProps={register("chatStyleConstraints")}
+              htmlFor="chatStyleConstraints"
-            placeholder="Example: keep answers under 120 words and include bullet points"
+              className="text-sm font-medium"
-            disabled={isLoading || isSaving}
+            >
-            helper="Optional global writing constraints used by Ghostwriter replies."
+              Constraints
-            current={constraints.effective || "—"}
+            </label>
-          />
+            <Textarea
+              id="chatStyleConstraints"
+              placeholder="Example: keep answers under 120 words and include bullet points"
+              disabled={isLoading || isSaving}
+              {...register("chatStyleConstraints")}
+            />
+            <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+              Optional global writing constraints applied to Ghostwriter replies
+              and resume tailoring.
+            </div>
+            <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+              Current:{" "}
+              <span className="font-mono">{constraints.effective || "—"}</span>
+            </div>
+          </div>
 
-          <SettingsInput
+          <div className="space-y-2">
-            label="Do-not-use terms"
+            <label htmlFor="chatStyleDoNotUse" className="text-sm font-medium">
-            inputProps={register("chatStyleDoNotUse")}
+              Do-not-use terms
-            placeholder="Example: synergize, leverage"
+            </label>
-            disabled={isLoading || isSaving}
+            <TokenizedInput
-            helper="Optional comma-separated words or phrases to avoid."
+              id="chatStyleDoNotUse"
-            current={doNotUse.effective || "—"}
+              values={doNotUseTokens}
-          />
+              draft={doNotUseDraft}
+              parseInput={parseTokenizedTerms}
+              onDraftChange={setDoNotUseDraft}
+              onValuesChange={(nextValues) =>
+                setValue("chatStyleDoNotUse", nextValues.join(", "), {
+                  shouldDirty: true,
+                })
+              }
+              placeholder='e.g. "synergize", "leverage"'
+              helperText="Optional words or phrases the AI should avoid when generating text. This is guidance to the model, not a guaranteed blocklist."
+              removeLabelPrefix="Remove do-not-use term"
+              disabled={isLoading || isSaving}
+            />
+            <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+              Current:{" "}
+              <span className="font-mono">{doNotUse.effective || "—"}</span>
+            </div>
+          </div>
 
           <Separator />
 

orchestrator/src/client/pages/settings/components/ScoringSettingsSection.tsx

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 } from "@/components/ui/accordion";
 import { Checkbox } from "@/components/ui/checkbox";
 import { Separator } from "@/components/ui/separator";
+import { Textarea } from "@/components/ui/textarea";
 
 type ScoringSettingsSectionProps = {
   values: ScoringValues;
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ export const ScoringSettingsSection: React.FC<ScoringSettingsSectionProps> = ({
     missingSalaryPenalty,
     autoSkipScoreThreshold,
     blockedCompanyKeywords,
+    scoringInstructions,
   } = values;
   const { control, watch, setValue } = useFormContext<UpdateSettingsInput>();
   const [blockedCompanyKeywordDraft, setBlockedCompanyKeywordDraft] =
@@ -168,6 +170,44 @@ export const ScoringSettingsSection: React.FC<ScoringSettingsSectionProps> = ({
 
           <Separator />
 
+          <div className="space-y-3">
+            <label
+              htmlFor="scoringInstructions"
+              className="text-sm font-medium leading-none"
+            >
+              Scoring Instructions
+            </label>
+            <Controller
+              name="scoringInstructions"
+              control={control}
+              render={({ field }) => (
+                <div className="space-y-2">
+                  <Textarea
+                    id="scoringInstructions"
+                    value={field.value ?? scoringInstructions.default}
+                    onChange={(event) => field.onChange(event.target.value)}
+                    placeholder="Example: Open to relocating, so do not mark down for location discrepancies. Prioritize visa sponsorship and backend API work."
+                    disabled={isLoading || isSaving}
+                    maxLength={4000}
+                  />
+                  <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                    Optional guidance for the AI scorer about what to weigh more
+                    or less. This only changes scoring, not Ghostwriter or
+                    tailoring.
+                  </div>
+                  <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                    Current:{" "}
+                    <span className="font-mono">
+                      {scoringInstructions.effective || "—"}
+                    </span>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              )}
+            />
+          </div>
+
+          <Separator />
+
           <div className="space-y-3">
             <label
               htmlFor="blocked-company-keywords"
@@ -232,6 +272,15 @@ export const ScoringSettingsSection: React.FC<ScoringSettingsSectionProps> = ({
                 Default: {autoSkipScoreThreshold.default ?? "Disabled"}
               </div>
             </div>
+            <div>
+              <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                Scoring Instructions
+              </div>
+              <div className="break-words font-mono text-xs">
+                Effective: {scoringInstructions.effective || "—"} | Default:{" "}
+                {scoringInstructions.default || "—"}
+              </div>
+            </div>
           </div>
         </div>
       </AccordionContent>

orchestrator/src/client/pages/settings/constants.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import {
+  getMatchingWritingStylePresetId,
+  resolveWritingStyleDraft,
+} from "./constants";
+
+describe("settings constants", () => {
+  it("falls back to effective defaults when overrides are blank", () => {
+    expect(
+      resolveWritingStyleDraft({
+        values: {
+          tone: "",
+          formality: null,
+          constraints: "",
+          doNotUse: undefined,
+        },
+        defaults: {
+          tone: { effective: "professional", default: "professional" },
+          formality: { effective: "medium", default: "medium" },
+          constraints: {
+            effective: "Keep it warm",
+            default: "Keep it warm",
+          },
+          doNotUse: { effective: "", default: "" },
+        },
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      tone: "professional",
+      formality: "medium",
+      constraints: "Keep it warm",
+      doNotUse: "",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("uses effective values instead of registry defaults for blank drafts", () => {
+    expect(
+      resolveWritingStyleDraft({
+        values: {
+          tone: "",
+          formality: "",
+          constraints: " ",
+          doNotUse: null,
+        },
+        defaults: {
+          tone: { effective: "friendly", default: "professional" },
+          formality: { effective: "low", default: "medium" },
+          constraints: {
+            effective: "Keep the response warm, approachable, and confident.",
+            default: "",
+          },
+          doNotUse: { effective: "synergy", default: "" },
+        },
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({
+      tone: "friendly",
+      formality: "low",
+      constraints: "Keep the response warm, approachable, and confident.",
+      doNotUse: "synergy",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("detects matching presets from a resolved draft", () => {
+    expect(
+      getMatchingWritingStylePresetId({
+        tone: "friendly",
+        formality: "low",
+        constraints: "Keep the response warm, approachable, and confident.",
+        doNotUse: "",
+      }),
+    ).toBe("friendly");
+
+    expect(
+      getMatchingWritingStylePresetId({
+        tone: "friendly",
+        formality: "low",
+        constraints: "Custom note",
+        doNotUse: "",
+      }),
+    ).toBeNull();
+  });
+});

orchestrator/src/client/pages/settings/constants.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
  * Settings page constants.
  */
 
+import type { ChatValues } from "@client/pages/settings/types";
 import type { JobStatus } from "@shared/types";
 
 /** All available job statuses for clearing */
@@ -25,3 +26,98 @@ export const STATUS_DESCRIPTIONS: Record<JobStatus, string> = {
   skipped: "User skipped this job",
   expired: "Deadline passed",
 };
+
+export type WritingStylePresetId =
+  | "professional"
+  | "concise"
+  | "direct"
+  | "friendly";
+
+export type WritingStyleDraft = {
+  tone: string;
+  formality: string;
+  constraints: string;
+  doNotUse: string;
+};
+
+export type WritingStylePreset = {
+  id: WritingStylePresetId;
+  label: string;
+  description: string;
+  values: WritingStyleDraft;
+};
+
+export const WRITING_STYLE_PRESETS: WritingStylePreset[] = [
+  {
+    id: "professional",
+    label: "Professional",
+    description: "Balanced default for polished, job-ready writing.",
+    values: {
+      tone: "professional",
+      formality: "medium",
+      constraints: "",
+      doNotUse: "",
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    id: "concise",
+    label: "Concise",
+    description: "Keeps responses compact and easy to scan.",
+    values: {
+      tone: "concise",
+      formality: "medium",
+      constraints: "Keep the response tight, practical, and easy to scan.",
+      doNotUse: "",
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    id: "direct",
+    label: "Direct",
+    description: "Uses plain, decisive phrasing with minimal hedging.",
+    values: {
+      tone: "direct",
+      formality: "medium",
+      constraints: "Prioritize clarity and direct wording over flourish.",
+      doNotUse: "",
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    id: "friendly",
+    label: "Friendly",
+    description: "Warm and personable while staying professional.",
+    values: {
+      tone: "friendly",
+      formality: "low",
+      constraints: "Keep the response warm, approachable, and confident.",
+      doNotUse: "",
+    },
+  },
+];
+
+export function resolveWritingStyleDraft(args: {
+  values: Partial<Record<keyof WritingStyleDraft, string | null | undefined>>;
+  defaults: ChatValues;
+}): WritingStyleDraft {
+  const { values, defaults } = args;
+
+  return {
+    tone: values.tone?.trim() || defaults.tone.effective,
+    formality: values.formality?.trim() || defaults.formality.effective,
+    constraints: values.constraints?.trim() || defaults.constraints.effective,
+    doNotUse: values.doNotUse?.trim() || defaults.doNotUse.effective,
+  };
+}
+
+export function getMatchingWritingStylePresetId(
+  style: WritingStyleDraft,
+): WritingStylePresetId | null {
+  const match = WRITING_STYLE_PRESETS.find(
+    (preset) =>
+      preset.values.tone === style.tone &&
+      preset.values.formality === style.formality &&
+      preset.values.constraints === style.constraints &&
+      preset.values.doNotUse === style.doNotUse,
+  );
+
+  return match?.id ?? null;
+}

orchestrator/src/client/pages/settings/types.ts

@@ -49,4 +49,5 @@ export type ScoringValues = {
   missingSalaryPenalty: EffectiveDefault<number>;
   autoSkipScoreThreshold: EffectiveDefault<number | null>;
   blockedCompanyKeywords: EffectiveDefault<string[]>;
+  scoringInstructions: EffectiveDefault<string>;
 };

orchestrator/src/lib/analytics.ts

@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ function getAnalyticsUserId(): string | null {
 
 function getAnalyticsAppVersion(): string | null {
   try {
-    return typeof __APP_VERSION__ !== "undefined" && __APP_VERSION__.trim()
+    return typeof __APP_VERSION__ !== "undefined" && __APP_VERSION__?.trim()
       ? __APP_VERSION__
       : null;
   } catch {

orchestrator/src/server/api/routes/settings.ts

@@ -27,21 +27,20 @@ export const settingsRouter = Router();
 /**
  * GET /api/settings - Get app settings (effective + defaults)
  */
-settingsRouter.get("/", async (_req: Request, res: Response) => {
+settingsRouter.get(
-  try {
+  "/",
+  asyncRoute(async (_req: Request, res: Response) => {
     const data = await getEffectiveSettings();
-    res.json({ success: true, data });
+    ok(res, data);
-  } catch (error) {
+  }),
-    const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : "Unknown error";
+);
-    res.status(500).json({ success: false, error: message });
-  }
-});
 
 /**
  * PATCH /api/settings - Update settings overrides
  */
-settingsRouter.patch("/", async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+settingsRouter.patch(
-  try {
+  "/",
+  asyncRoute(async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     if (isDemoMode()) {
       return sendDemoBlocked(
         res,
@@ -62,12 +61,9 @@ settingsRouter.patch("/", async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
         maxCount: data.backupMaxCount.value,
       });
     }
-    res.json({ success: true, data });
+    ok(res, data);
-  } catch (error) {
+  }),
-    const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : "Unknown error";
+);
-    res.status(400).json({ success: false, error: message });
-  }
-});
 
 /**
  * GET /api/settings/rx-resumes - Fetch list of resumes from Reactive Resume (v4/v5 adapter)

orchestrator/src/server/infra/errors.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { toAppError } from "./errors";
+
+describe("toAppError", () => {
+  it("preserves issues for zod-like errors without a local flatten method", () => {
+    const error = Object.assign(new Error("Invalid payload"), {
+      name: "ZodError",
+      issues: [
+        {
+          code: "custom",
+          path: ["field"],
+          message: "Field is invalid",
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const appError = toAppError(error);
+
+    expect(appError.status).toBe(400);
+    expect(appError.code).toBe("INVALID_REQUEST");
+    expect(appError.details).toEqual({
+      formErrors: [],
+      fieldErrors: {},
+      issues: [
+        {
+          code: "custom",
+          path: ["field"],
+          message: "Field is invalid",
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+  });
+});

orchestrator/src/server/infra/errors.ts

@@ -103,10 +103,25 @@ export function serviceUnavailable(message: string): AppError {
   return new AppError({ status: 503, code: "SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE", message });
 }
 
+function isZodErrorLike(error: unknown): error is ZodError {
+  if (error instanceof ZodError) return true;
+  if (!(error instanceof Error) || error.name !== "ZodError") return false;
+
+  return Array.isArray((error as { issues?: unknown }).issues);
+}
+
 export function toAppError(error: unknown): AppError {
   if (error instanceof AppError) return error;
-  if (error instanceof ZodError) {
+  if (isZodErrorLike(error)) {
-    return badRequest(error.message, error.flatten());
+    const details =
+      typeof error.flatten === "function"
+        ? error.flatten()
+        : {
+            formErrors: [],
+            fieldErrors: {},
+            issues: error.issues,
+          };
+    return badRequest(error.message, details);
   }
   if (error instanceof Error && error.name === "AbortError") {
     return requestTimeout("Request timed out");

orchestrator/src/server/services/ghostwriter-context.test.ts

@@ -7,35 +7,27 @@ vi.mock("../repositories/jobs", () => ({
   getJobById: vi.fn(),
 }));
 
-vi.mock("./settings", () => ({
-  getEffectiveSettings: vi.fn(),
-}));
-
 vi.mock("./profile", () => ({
   getProfile: vi.fn(),
 }));
 
+vi.mock("./writing-style", () => ({
+  getWritingStyle: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
 import { getJobById } from "../repositories/jobs";
 import { getProfile } from "./profile";
-import { getEffectiveSettings } from "./settings";
+import { getWritingStyle } from "./writing-style";
 
 describe("buildJobChatPromptContext", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.resetAllMocks();
-    vi.mocked(getEffectiveSettings).mockResolvedValue({
+    vi.mocked(getWritingStyle).mockResolvedValue({
-      chatStyleTone: {
+      tone: "professional",
-        value: "professional",
+      formality: "medium",
-        default: "professional",
+      constraints: "",
-        override: null,
+      doNotUse: "",
-      },
+    });
-      chatStyleFormality: {
-        value: "medium",
-        default: "medium",
-        override: null,
-      },
-      chatStyleConstraints: { value: "", default: "", override: null },
-      chatStyleDoNotUse: { value: "", default: "", override: null },
-    } as any);
   });
 
   it("builds context with style directives and snapshots", async () => {
@@ -47,28 +39,12 @@ describe("buildJobChatPromptContext", () => {
     });
 
     vi.mocked(getJobById).mockResolvedValue(job);
-    vi.mocked(getEffectiveSettings).mockResolvedValue({
+    vi.mocked(getWritingStyle).mockResolvedValue({
-      chatStyleTone: {
+      tone: "direct",
-        value: "direct",
+      formality: "high",
-        default: "professional",
+      constraints: "Keep responses under 120 words",
-        override: "direct",
+      doNotUse: "synergy, leverage",
-      },
+    });
-      chatStyleFormality: {
-        value: "high",
-        default: "medium",
-        override: "high",
-      },
-      chatStyleConstraints: {
-        value: "Keep responses under 120 words",
-        default: "",
-        override: "Keep responses under 120 words",
-      },
-      chatStyleDoNotUse: {
-        value: "synergy, leverage",
-        default: "",
-        override: "synergy, leverage",
-      },
-    } as any);
     vi.mocked(getProfile).mockResolvedValue({
       basics: {
         name: "Test User",

orchestrator/src/server/services/ghostwriter-context.ts

@@ -4,18 +4,11 @@ import { sanitizeUnknown } from "@infra/sanitize";
 import type { Job, ResumeProfile } from "@shared/types";
 import * as jobsRepo from "../repositories/jobs";
 import { getProfile } from "./profile";
-import { getEffectiveSettings } from "./settings";
+import { getWritingStyle, type WritingStyle } from "./writing-style";
-
-type JobChatStyle = {
-  tone: string;
-  formality: string;
-  constraints: string;
-  doNotUse: string;
-};
 
 export type JobChatPromptContext = {
   job: Job;
-  style: JobChatStyle;
+  style: WritingStyle;
   systemPrompt: string;
   jobSnapshot: string;
   profileSnapshot: string;
@@ -103,7 +96,7 @@ function buildProfileSnapshot(profile: ResumeProfile): string {
   ]);
 }
 
-function buildSystemPrompt(style: JobChatStyle): string {
+function buildSystemPrompt(style: WritingStyle): string {
   return compactJoin([
     "You are Ghostwriter, a job-application writing assistant for a single job.",
     "Use only the provided job and profile context unless the user gives extra details.",
@@ -117,17 +110,6 @@ function buildSystemPrompt(style: JobChatStyle): string {
   ]);
 }
 
-async function resolveStyle(): Promise<JobChatStyle> {
-  const settings = await getEffectiveSettings();
-
-  return {
-    tone: settings.chatStyleTone.value,
-    formality: settings.chatStyleFormality.value,
-    constraints: settings.chatStyleConstraints.value,
-    doNotUse: settings.chatStyleDoNotUse.value,
-  };
-}
-
 export async function buildJobChatPromptContext(
   jobId: string,
 ): Promise<JobChatPromptContext> {
@@ -136,7 +118,7 @@ export async function buildJobChatPromptContext(
     throw notFound("Job not found");
   }
 
-  const style = await resolveStyle();
+  const style = await getWritingStyle();
 
   let profile: ResumeProfile = {};
   try {

orchestrator/src/server/services/scorer.test.ts

@@ -419,6 +419,50 @@ describe("salary penalty", () => {
   });
 
   describe("penalty application", () => {
+    it("includes custom scoring instructions in the scorer prompt", async () => {
+      const { scoreJobSuitability } = await import("./scorer");
+      const { LlmService } = await import("./llm/service");
+
+      getEffectiveSettingsMock.mockResolvedValue({
+        penalizeMissingSalary: { value: false, default: false, override: null },
+        missingSalaryPenalty: { value: 10, default: 10, override: null },
+        scoringInstructions: {
+          value:
+            "Open to relocating, so do not mark down for location discrepancies.",
+          default: "",
+          override:
+            "Open to relocating, so do not mark down for location discrepancies.",
+        },
+        rxresumeBaseResumeId: "base-resume-123",
+      } as any);
+
+      const callJsonMock = vi
+        .spyOn(LlmService.prototype, "callJson")
+        .mockResolvedValue({
+          success: true,
+          data: { score: 80, reason: "Good match" },
+        });
+
+      const job = createJob({
+        id: "test-job-1",
+        title: "Software Engineer",
+      });
+
+      await scoreJobSuitability(job, {});
+
+      expect(callJsonMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          messages: [
+            expect.objectContaining({
+              content: expect.stringContaining(
+                "Open to relocating, so do not mark down for location discrepancies.",
+              ),
+            }),
+          ],
+        }),
+      );
+    });
+
     it("should not apply penalty when disabled", async () => {
       const { scoreJobSuitability } = await import("./scorer");
       const { LlmService } = await import("./llm/service");

orchestrator/src/server/services/scorer.ts

@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ interface SuitabilityResult {
   reason: string; // Explanation
 }
 
+type ScoringPreferences = {
+  instructions: string;
+};
+
 /** JSON schema for suitability scoring response */
 const SCORING_SCHEMA: JsonSchemaDefinition = {
   name: "job_suitability_score",
@@ -96,7 +100,9 @@ export async function scoreJobSuitability(
     process.env.MODEL ||
     "google/gemini-3-flash-preview";
 
-  const prompt = buildScoringPrompt(job, sanitizeProfileForPrompt(profile));
+  const prompt = buildScoringPrompt(job, sanitizeProfileForPrompt(profile), {
+    instructions: settings.scoringInstructions?.value ?? "",
+  });
 
   const llm = new LlmService();
   const result = await llm.callJson<{ score: number; reason: string }>({
@@ -252,6 +258,7 @@ export function parseJsonFromContent(
 function buildScoringPrompt(
   job: Job,
   profile: Record<string, unknown>,
+  preferences: ScoringPreferences,
 ): string {
   return `You are evaluating a job listing for a candidate. Score how suitable this job is for the candidate on a scale of 0-100.
 
@@ -276,6 +283,13 @@ Disciplines: ${job.disciplines || "Not specified"}
 JOB DESCRIPTION:
 ${job.jobDescription || "No description available"}
 
+SCORING INSTRUCTIONS:
+${
+  preferences.instructions
+    ? preferences.instructions
+    : "No additional custom scoring instructions."
+}
+
 IMPORTANT: Respond with ONLY a valid JSON object. No markdown, no code fences, no explanation outside the JSON.
 
 REQUIRED FORMAT (exactly this structure):

orchestrator/src/server/services/summary.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+import type { ResumeProfile } from "@shared/types";
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+const callJsonMock = vi.fn();
+const getProviderMock = vi.fn();
+const getBaseUrlMock = vi.fn();
+
+vi.mock("../repositories/settings", () => ({
+  getSetting: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("./llm/service", () => ({
+  LlmService: class {
+    callJson = callJsonMock;
+    getProvider = getProviderMock;
+    getBaseUrl = getBaseUrlMock;
+  },
+}));
+
+vi.mock("./writing-style", () => ({
+  getWritingStyle: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+import { getSetting } from "../repositories/settings";
+import { generateTailoring } from "./summary";
+import { getWritingStyle } from "./writing-style";
+
+describe("generateTailoring", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+    getProviderMock.mockReturnValue("openrouter");
+    getBaseUrlMock.mockReturnValue("https://openrouter.ai");
+    callJsonMock.mockResolvedValue({
+      success: true,
+      data: {
+        summary: "Tailored summary",
+        headline: "Senior Engineer",
+        skills: [],
+      },
+    });
+    vi.mocked(getSetting).mockResolvedValue(null);
+    vi.mocked(getWritingStyle).mockResolvedValue({
+      tone: "friendly",
+      formality: "low",
+      constraints: "Keep it under 90 words",
+      doNotUse: "synergy",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("passes shared writing-style instructions into tailoring prompts", async () => {
+    const profile: ResumeProfile = {
+      basics: {
+        name: "Test User",
+        label: "Engineer",
+        summary: "Existing summary",
+      },
+    };
+
+    await generateTailoring("Build APIs", profile);
+
+    expect(callJsonMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    const request = callJsonMock.mock.calls[0]?.[0];
+    expect(request?.messages?.[0]?.content).toContain(
+      "WRITING STYLE PREFERENCES:",
+    );
+    expect(request?.messages?.[0]?.content).toContain("Tone: friendly");
+    expect(request?.messages?.[0]?.content).toContain("Formality: low");
+    expect(request?.messages?.[0]?.content).toContain(
+      "Additional constraints: Keep it under 90 words",
+    );
+    expect(request?.messages?.[0]?.content).toContain(
+      "Avoid these words or phrases: synergy",
+    );
+  });
+});

orchestrator/src/server/services/summary.ts

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import type { ResumeProfile } from "@shared/types";
 import { getSetting } from "../repositories/settings";
 import { LlmService } from "./llm/service";
 import type { JsonSchemaDefinition } from "./llm/types";
+import { getWritingStyle } from "./writing-style";
 
 export interface TailoredData {
   summary: string;
@@ -67,17 +68,19 @@ export async function generateTailoring(
   jobDescription: string,
   profile: ResumeProfile,
 ): Promise<TailoringResult> {
-  const [overrideModel, overrideModelTailoring] = await Promise.all([
+  const [overrideModel, overrideModelTailoring, writingStyle] =
-    getSetting("model"),
+    await Promise.all([
-    getSetting("modelTailoring"),
+      getSetting("model"),
-  ]);
+      getSetting("modelTailoring"),
+      getWritingStyle(),
+    ]);
   // Precedence: Tailoring-specific override > Global override > Env var > Default
   const model =
     overrideModelTailoring ||
     overrideModel ||
     process.env.MODEL ||
     "google/gemini-3-flash-preview";
-  const prompt = buildTailoringPrompt(profile, jobDescription);
+  const prompt = buildTailoringPrompt(profile, jobDescription, writingStyle);
 
   const llm = new LlmService();
   const result = await llm.callJson<TailoredData>({
@@ -132,7 +135,11 @@ export async function generateSummary(
   };
 }
 
-function buildTailoringPrompt(profile: ResumeProfile, jd: string): string {
+function buildTailoringPrompt(
+  profile: ResumeProfile,
+  jd: string,
+  writingStyle: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof getWritingStyle>>,
+): string {
   // Extract only needed parts of profile to save tokens
   const relevantProfile = {
     basics: {
@@ -182,6 +189,12 @@ INSTRUCTIONS:
    - Keep my original skill levels and categories, just rename/reorder keywords to prioritize JD terms.
    - Return the full "items" array for the skills section, preserving the structure: { "name": "Frontend", "keywords": [...] }.
 
+WRITING STYLE PREFERENCES:
+- Tone: ${writingStyle.tone}
+- Formality: ${writingStyle.formality}
+${writingStyle.constraints ? `- Additional constraints: ${writingStyle.constraints}` : ""}
+${writingStyle.doNotUse ? `- Avoid these words or phrases: ${writingStyle.doNotUse}` : ""}
+
 OUTPUT FORMAT (JSON):
 {
   "headline": "...",

orchestrator/src/server/services/writing-style.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+vi.mock("@server/repositories/settings", () => ({
+  getSetting: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+import { getSetting } from "@server/repositories/settings";
+import { getWritingStyle } from "./writing-style";
+
+describe("getWritingStyle", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.resetAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it("uses defaults when no overrides are stored", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getSetting).mockResolvedValue(null);
+
+    await expect(getWritingStyle()).resolves.toEqual({
+      tone: "professional",
+      formality: "medium",
+      constraints: "",
+      doNotUse: "",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("uses stored overrides when present", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(getSetting).mockImplementation(async (key) => {
+      switch (key) {
+        case "chatStyleTone":
+          return "friendly";
+        case "chatStyleFormality":
+          return "low";
+        case "chatStyleConstraints":
+          return "Keep it short";
+        case "chatStyleDoNotUse":
+          return "synergy";
+        default:
+          return null;
+      }
+    });
+
+    await expect(getWritingStyle()).resolves.toEqual({
+      tone: "friendly",
+      formality: "low",
+      constraints: "Keep it short",
+      doNotUse: "synergy",
+    });
+  });
+});

orchestrator/src/server/services/writing-style.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import * as settingsRepo from "@server/repositories/settings";
+import { settingsRegistry } from "@shared/settings-registry";
+
+export type WritingStyle = {
+  tone: string;
+  formality: string;
+  constraints: string;
+  doNotUse: string;
+};
+
+export async function getWritingStyle(): Promise<WritingStyle> {
+  const [toneRaw, formalityRaw, constraintsRaw, doNotUseRaw] =
+    await Promise.all([
+      settingsRepo.getSetting("chatStyleTone"),
+      settingsRepo.getSetting("chatStyleFormality"),
+      settingsRepo.getSetting("chatStyleConstraints"),
+      settingsRepo.getSetting("chatStyleDoNotUse"),
+    ]);
+
+  return {
+    tone:
+      settingsRegistry.chatStyleTone.parse(toneRaw ?? undefined) ??
+      settingsRegistry.chatStyleTone.default(),
+    formality:
+      settingsRegistry.chatStyleFormality.parse(formalityRaw ?? undefined) ??
+      settingsRegistry.chatStyleFormality.default(),
+    constraints:
+      settingsRegistry.chatStyleConstraints.parse(
+        constraintsRaw ?? undefined,
+      ) ?? settingsRegistry.chatStyleConstraints.default(),
+    doNotUse:
+      settingsRegistry.chatStyleDoNotUse.parse(doNotUseRaw ?? undefined) ??
+      settingsRegistry.chatStyleDoNotUse.default(),
+  };
+}

shared/src/settings-registry.ts

@@ -200,6 +200,14 @@ export const settingsRegistry = {
     parse: parseJsonArrayOrNull,
     serialize: serializeNullableJsonArray,
   },
+  scoringInstructions: {
+    kind: "typed" as const,
+    schema: z.string().trim().max(4000),
+    default: (): string => "",
+    parse: parseNonEmptyStringOrNull,
+    serialize: (value: string | null | undefined): string | null =>
+      value ?? null,
+  },
   searchCities: {
     kind: "typed" as const,
     schema: z.string().trim().max(100),

shared/src/testing/factories.ts

@@ -163,6 +163,11 @@ export const createAppSettings = (
     default: [],
     override: null,
   },
+  scoringInstructions: {
+    value: "",
+    default: "",
+    override: null,
+  },
   searchCities: {
     value: "United Kingdom",
     default: "United Kingdom",

shared/src/types/settings.ts

@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ export interface AppSettings {
   gradcrackerMaxJobsPerTerm: Resolved<number>;
   searchTerms: Resolved<string[]>;
   blockedCompanyKeywords: Resolved<string[]>;
+  scoringInstructions: Resolved<string>;
   searchCities: Resolved<string>;
   jobspyResultsWanted: Resolved<number>;
   jobspyCountryIndeed: Resolved<string>;