Configuration

candidate/*.yml files, mode switches, and how to change settings without re-running onboarding.

Initial setup

Configuration is produced by ingest-profile during onboarding. You do not hand-edit the config files directly during setup — the agent interviews you and writes the files via validated CLI helpers.

Changing settings later

To change any setting after onboarding without re-running the full interview:

change a setting / update my comp floor / add an excluded company turn on browser automation / change my writing style

The agent routes to configure, which:

Shows your current state (careerrat doctor, careerrat modes status, careerrat automation status).
Routes each change to the canonical validated CLI helper (careerrat gate, careerrat modes, careerrat automation) or the owning skill.
Confirms before writing consequential changes.

configure never becomes a separate mutation path — it routes through the same validated tools that the skills use.

Gate files and the gate helper

When you state a new constraint mid-flow ("never that company", "below $190K is a no"), the agent writes it to the canonical config file so all other skills inherit it immediately. It uses careerrat gate:

careerrat gate exclude-company "Acme Corp"           # dry-run
careerrat gate exclude-company "Acme Corp" --write   # commit
careerrat gate comp-floor 180000 --write
careerrat gate cut-signal "requires >25% travel" --write

Gate types: exclude-company, cut-signal, keep-signal, comp-floor, comp-target, comp-expected, do-not-claim, do-not-fabricate.

Mode switches

candidate/modes.yml (optional) controls operational posture. If absent, defaults are standard usage, balanced application mode, and standard voice.

careerrat modes status                              # current values
careerrat modes set usage lean --write             # change usage mode
careerrat modes set application high-volume --write

Mode	Options	Effect
`usage_mode`	`lean`, `standard`, `full`	How much discretionary work CareerRat runs (research, deep packets, board discovery)
`application_mode`	`selective`, `balanced`, `high-volume`	Pursuit posture after discovery (thresholds, medium-fit review)
No mode relaxes the honesty, privacy, comp, or application-limit gates.

Browser automation switches

careerrat automation status                         # the live matrix
careerrat automation consent linkedin --write       # record ToS consent
careerrat automation enable status_polling all --write
careerrat automation session extension --write      # preferred provider

See Browser Automation for the full capability list and consent model.

Config files reference

File	Managed by	Purpose
`profile.yml`	`ingest-profile`, `configure`	Identity, comp, location, domain
`targeting.yml`	`ingest-profile`, `careerrat gate`	Role targets, keep/cut signals, exclusions
`evidence.yml`	`ingest-profile`, `careerrat evidence`	Accomplishment claims
`honesty.yml`	`ingest-profile`, `careerrat gate`	Honesty boundaries
`form-defaults.yml`	`ingest-profile`, `configure`	Portal form answers
`application-limits.yml`	`configure`, `careerrat gate`	Per-company caps and cooldowns
`modes.yml`	`careerrat modes`	Usage and application posture
`automation.yml`	`careerrat automation`	Browser capabilities
`search-sources.yml`	`setup-searches`, `research-boards`	Job board and ATS sources
`sourced-scan.json`	`discover-companies`	Tracked companies for the sweep