diff --git a/job-tracker-ui/scripts/verify-job-date-widgets.mjs b/job-tracker-ui/scripts/verify-job-date-widgets.mjs
index aec37c88..19b02859 100644
--- a/job-tracker-ui/scripts/verify-job-date-widgets.mjs
+++ b/job-tracker-ui/scripts/verify-job-date-widgets.mjs
@@ -140,6 +140,18 @@ try {
     await expect(add).toBeHidden();
     assert.equal(writes.length, 2);
     assert.equal(writes[1].body.dateApplied, '2026-11-24'); assert.equal(writes[1].body.deadline, '2026-11-24');
+    job.status = 'Saved'; job.dateApplied = null;
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: `${copy.jobTableActions}: Teacher`, exact: true }).click();
+    await page.getByRole('menuitem', { name: copy.jobTableEdit, exact: true }).click();
+    const unapplied = page.getByRole('dialog', { name: copy.editJobTitle, exact: true });
+    await expect(unapplied.getByRole('group', { name: copy.editJobAppliedOn, exact: true }).locator('input')).toHaveValue('');
+    await unapplied.getByRole('textbox', { name: copy.editJobJobTitle, exact: true }).fill('Retain unapplied teacher');
+    await capture('unapplied');
+    await unapplied.getByRole('button', { name: copy.save, exact: true }).click();
+    await expect(unapplied).toBeHidden();
+    assert.equal(writes.length, 3);
+    assert.equal(writes[2].body.dateApplied, null); assert.equal(writes[2].body.status, 'Saved');
+    assert.equal(writes[2].body.expectedVersion, 7); assert.equal(writes[2].body.jobTitle, 'Retain unapplied teacher');
     report.journeys.push({ zone, language, width, touch: mobile, theme, sevenCalendarSelections: 'PASS', localeDraftRetention: 'PASS', localToday: today, fixtureSaveCreate: 'PASS' });
     await context.close();
   }
diff --git a/job-tracker-ui/src/components/EditJobDialog.tsx b/job-tracker-ui/src/components/EditJobDialog.tsx
index 49b5382f..0d934b13 100644
--- a/job-tracker-ui/src/components/EditJobDialog.tsx
+++ b/job-tracker-ui/src/components/EditJobDialog.tsx
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ const FIELD_SX = { "& .MuiInputBase-root": { minHeight: 56 } };
 const PICKER_TEXT_FIELD_PROPS = { fullWidth: true, sx: FIELD_SX };
 
 function toDateInputValue(isoLike?: string): string {
-  if (!isoLike) return new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 10);
+  if (!isoLike) return "";
   const d = new Date(isoLike);
-  if (Number.isNaN(+d)) return new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 10);
+  if (Number.isNaN(+d)) return "";
   return d.toISOString().slice(0, 10);
 }
 
diff --git a/job-tracker-ui/src/job-date-picker-calendar.test.tsx b/job-tracker-ui/src/job-date-picker-calendar.test.tsx
index 6517aae2..b8beb3bd 100644
--- a/job-tracker-ui/src/job-date-picker-calendar.test.tsx
+++ b/job-tracker-ui/src/job-date-picker-calendar.test.tsx
@@ -34,6 +34,18 @@ beforeEach(() => {
 });
 afterEach(() => { jest.useRealTimers(); });
 
+test.each([null, "", "not-a-date"])("Edit preserves an absent or invalid application date (%s) instead of inventing today", async dateApplied => {
+  client.get.mockResolvedValue({ data: { ...job, status: "Saved", dateApplied } } as any);
+  render(wrap(<EditJobDialog open jobId={1} onClose={jest.fn()} onSaved={jest.fn()} />));
+  await screen.findByDisplayValue("Teacher");
+  expect(screen.getByLabelText(translations.en.editJobAppliedOn)).toBeEmptyDOMElement();
+  fireEvent.change(screen.getByLabelText(translations.en.editJobJobTitle), { target: { value: "Saved teacher opportunity" } });
+  fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: translations.en.save }));
+  await waitFor(() => expect(client.put).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/jobapplications/1", expect.objectContaining({
+    expectedVersion: 7, status: "Saved", dateApplied: null, jobTitle: "Saved teacher opportunity",
+  })));
+});
+
 test.each(["2026-11-23T00:30:00Z", "2026-11-23T23:30:00Z"])("Add defaults and successful reset use local today at %s", async clock => {
   jest.useFakeTimers();
   jest.setSystemTime(new Date(clock));