diff --git a/job-tracker-ui/src/App.tsx b/job-tracker-ui/src/App.tsx
index 855155d..0210bd3 100644
--- a/job-tracker-ui/src/App.tsx
+++ b/job-tracker-ui/src/App.tsx
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ function Shell({ jobPageSize, setJobPageSize, jobColumns, setJobColumns, themeMo
 
   const path = location.pathname;
   const isJobs = path.startsWith("/jobs");
+  const shortcutHint = useMemo(() => (
+    typeof navigator !== "undefined" && /Mac|iPhone|iPod|iPad/.test(navigator.platform) ? "⌘K" : "Ctrl+K"
+  ), []);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     api.get<AuthConfig>("/auth/config").then((r) => setRequireAuth(Boolean(r.data?.requireAuth))).catch(() => setRequireAuth(false));
@@ -246,14 +249,19 @@ function Shell({ jobPageSize, setJobPageSize, jobColumns, setJobColumns, themeMo
         <IconButton
           color="secondary"
           size="small"
-          title={t("quickSearch")}
+          title={`${t("quickSearch")} (${shortcutHint})`}
           onClick={() => setQuickOpen(true)}
           sx={{ border: "1px solid", borderColor: "divider", borderRadius: 2.5, width: 42, height: 42, flex: "0 0 auto" }}
         >
           <SearchIcon fontSize="small" />
         </IconButton>
       ) : (
-        <Button variant="outlined" startIcon={<SearchIcon />} onClick={() => setQuickOpen(true)}>{t("quickSearch")}</Button>
+        <Button variant="outlined" startIcon={<SearchIcon />} onClick={() => setQuickOpen(true)} sx={{ gap: 0.5 }}>
+          {t("quickSearch")}
+          <Box component="span" sx={{ ml: 0.75, px: 0.75, py: 0.125, borderRadius: 1, border: "1px solid", borderColor: "divider", fontSize: 11, fontWeight: 700, color: "text.secondary", lineHeight: 1.6 }}>
+            {shortcutHint}
+          </Box>
+        </Button>
       )}
       {isJobs ? (
         <Button variant="contained" onClick={() => setAddOpen(true)} sx={{ flex: { xs: 1, sm: "0 0 auto" }, minHeight: 42 }}>
@@ -284,7 +292,7 @@ function Shell({ jobPageSize, setJobPageSize, jobColumns, setJobColumns, themeMo
       >
         <Suspense fallback={<PageLoader />}>
           <Routes>
-            <Route path="/" element={<Navigate to="/jobs" replace />} />
+            <Route path="/" element={<Navigate to="/dashboard" replace />} />
             <Route path="/dashboard" element={<DashboardView />} />
             <Route path="/jobs" element={<JobTable refreshToken={refreshToken} pageSize={jobPageSize} onPageSizeChange={setAndPersistPageSize} columns={jobColumns} onColumnsChange={setAndPersistColumns} mode="jobs" />} />
             <Route path="/reminders" element={<RemindersView />} />
diff --git a/job-tracker-ui/src/components/GoogleAuthCard.tsx b/job-tracker-ui/src/components/GoogleAuthCard.tsx
index 732a5c6..35e3d73 100644
--- a/job-tracker-ui/src/components/GoogleAuthCard.tsx
+++ b/job-tracker-ui/src/components/GoogleAuthCard.tsx
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ export default function GoogleAuthCard({ onSignedIn }: { onSignedIn?: () => void
   const { t } = useI18n();
   const [me, setMe] = useState<MeResponse | null>(null);
   const [working, setWorking] = useState(false);
+  const [allowRegistration, setAllowRegistration] = useState(false);
   const hostRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement | null>(null);
 
   const clientId = (process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID || "").trim();
@@ -72,6 +73,9 @@ export default function GoogleAuthCard({ onSignedIn }: { onSignedIn?: () => void
 
   useEffect(() => {
     void refreshMe();
+    api.get<{ allowRegistration: boolean }>("/auth/config").then((res) => {
+      setAllowRegistration(Boolean(res.data?.allowRegistration));
+    }).catch(() => setAllowRegistration(false));
   }, []);
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -156,7 +160,7 @@ export default function GoogleAuthCard({ onSignedIn }: { onSignedIn?: () => void
 
           {!signedIn ? (
             <Typography sx={{ color: "text.secondary" }}>
-              {t("googleSignInHint")}
+              {allowRegistration ? t("googleSignInHintSelfServe") : t("googleSignInHint")}
             </Typography>
           ) : me?.provider === "local" ? (
             <Typography sx={{ color: "text.secondary" }}>
diff --git a/job-tracker-ui/src/components/JobDetailsDialog.tsx b/job-tracker-ui/src/components/JobDetailsDialog.tsx
index 199f001..cb044fb 100644
--- a/job-tracker-ui/src/components/JobDetailsDialog.tsx
+++ b/job-tracker-ui/src/components/JobDetailsDialog.tsx
@@ -1132,6 +1132,7 @@ export default function JobDetailsDialog({ open, jobId, onClose, initialTab = 0,
             <MatchScoreCard score={matchScore} loading={loadingMatchScore} />
             {loadingCandidateFit ? <Box sx={{ py: 4, display: "flex", justifyContent: "center" }}><CircularProgress size={28} /></Box> : candidateFit ? (
               <Box sx={{ display: "flex", flexDirection: "column", gap: 2.5 }}>
+                <Typography variant="caption" sx={{ color: "text.secondary", display: "block", mt: -1 }}>{t("jobDetailsAiFitHint")}</Typography>
                 <Box sx={{ display: "flex", justifyContent: "space-between", alignItems: "center", gap: 1, flexWrap: "wrap" }}>
                   <Box><Typography variant="overline">{t("jobDetailsHowYouMatch")}</Typography><Typography sx={{ whiteSpace: "pre-wrap" }}>{candidateFit.matchSummary}</Typography></Box>
                   <Box sx={{ display: "flex", gap: 1, flexWrap: "wrap", alignItems: "center" }}>
diff --git a/job-tracker-ui/src/components/JobTable.tsx b/job-tracker-ui/src/components/JobTable.tsx
index 08518ce..71f933f 100644
--- a/job-tracker-ui/src/components/JobTable.tsx
+++ b/job-tracker-ui/src/components/JobTable.tsx
@@ -110,6 +110,19 @@ function parseTags(raw?: string | null): string[] {
 }
 
 
+function EmptyJobsState({ firstTime, onOpenSettings, t }: { firstTime: boolean; onOpenSettings: () => void; t: (key: any) => string }) {
+  if (!firstTime) {
+    return <Typography sx={{ py: 2, textAlign: "center", color: "text.secondary" }}>{t("jobTableNoJobsFound")}</Typography>;
+  }
+  return (
+    <Box sx={{ py: 4, textAlign: "center" }}>
+      <Typography sx={{ fontWeight: 800, mb: 0.5 }}>{t("jobTableEmptyFirstTimeTitle")}</Typography>
+      <Typography sx={{ color: "text.secondary", mb: 1.5, maxWidth: 440, mx: "auto" }}>{t("jobTableEmptyFirstTimeBody")}</Typography>
+      <Button variant="text" onClick={onOpenSettings}>{t("jobTableEmptyFirstTimeBookmarklet")}</Button>
+    </Box>
+  );
+}
+
 function generateOverview(job: JobApplication): string {
   if (job.fullSummary) return job.fullSummary;
   if (job.shortSummary) return job.shortSummary;
@@ -220,6 +233,12 @@ export default function JobTable({ refreshToken, pageSize, onPageSizeChange, col
     return jobs.filter((job) => needsWorkflowWork(job));
   }, [jobs, readinessFilter]);
 
+  // Distinguishes "you have zero jobs, period" from "no results match your filters" so the
+  // empty state can actually help a first-time user instead of just saying "nothing here".
+  const noFiltersActive = !debouncedSearch.trim() && statusFilter === "All" && companyFilterId === "All"
+    && !debouncedLocation.trim() && !needsFollowUpOnly && readinessFilter === "all";
+  const isFirstTimeEmpty = mode === "jobs" && total === 0 && noFiltersActive;
+
   const selectedIdSet = useMemo(() => new Set(selectedIds), [selectedIds]);
 
   const selectedAllOnPage = filteredJobs.length > 0 && filteredJobs.every((job) => selectedIdSet.has(job.id));
@@ -629,7 +648,9 @@ export default function JobTable({ refreshToken, pageSize, onPageSizeChange, col
                 </Paper>
               );
             })}
-            {filteredJobs.length === 0 && !jobsResource.loading && !jobsResource.error ? <Typography sx={{ py: 2, textAlign: "center" }}>{t("jobTableNoJobsFound")}</Typography> : null}
+            {filteredJobs.length === 0 && !jobsResource.loading && !jobsResource.error ? (
+              <EmptyJobsState firstTime={isFirstTimeEmpty} onOpenSettings={() => navigate("/settings")} t={t} />
+            ) : null}
           </Stack>
         ) : (
           <Box sx={{ overflowX: "auto" }}>
@@ -721,7 +742,9 @@ export default function JobTable({ refreshToken, pageSize, onPageSizeChange, col
                     </React.Fragment>
                   );
                 })}
-                {filteredJobs.length === 0 && !jobsResource.loading && !jobsResource.error ? <TableRow><TableCell colSpan={visibleDesktopColumns}><Typography sx={{ py: 2, textAlign: "center" }}>{t("jobTableNoJobsFound")}</Typography></TableCell></TableRow> : null}
+                {filteredJobs.length === 0 && !jobsResource.loading && !jobsResource.error ? (
+                  <TableRow><TableCell colSpan={visibleDesktopColumns}><EmptyJobsState firstTime={isFirstTimeEmpty} onOpenSettings={() => navigate("/settings")} t={t} /></TableCell></TableRow>
+                ) : null}
               </TableBody>
             </Table>
           </Box>
diff --git a/job-tracker-ui/src/i18n/translations.ts b/job-tracker-ui/src/i18n/translations.ts
index 84c091f..76432ce 100644
--- a/job-tracker-ui/src/i18n/translations.ts
+++ b/job-tracker-ui/src/i18n/translations.ts
@@ -606,6 +606,7 @@ export const translations = {
     googleAvailableToLink: "Available to link",
     googleLinkedDate: "Linked {date}",
     googleSignInHint: "Sign in with a Google account that has already been linked to your Jobbjakt user.",
+    googleSignInHintSelfServe: "Continue with Google. New here? We'll create your account automatically.",
     continueWithGoogle: "Continue with Google",
     signInWithGoogle: "Sign in with Google",
     linkWithGoogle: "Link with Google",
@@ -750,6 +751,9 @@ export const translations = {
     jobTableOverview: "Overview",
     jobTableNoSummaryYet: "No summary yet.",
     jobTableNoJobsFound: "No jobs found.",
+    jobTableEmptyFirstTimeTitle: "No jobs yet — let's fix that.",
+    jobTableEmptyFirstTimeBody: "Click \"Add job\" above to add one manually, or paste a job posting URL. There's also a one-click bookmarklet that captures a posting straight from the page you're viewing.",
+    jobTableEmptyFirstTimeBookmarklet: "Set up the bookmarklet",
     jobTableSetStatus: "Set {status}",
     editJobTitle: "Edit job",
     editJobIntro: "Update job details, timeline status, documents, and notes from one editing workspace.",
@@ -894,6 +898,7 @@ export const translations = {
     jobDetailsFollowUpSent: "Follow-up sent and logged.",
     jobDetailsFollowUpSendFailed: "Failed to send follow-up.",
     jobDetailsHowYouMatch: "How you match",
+    jobDetailsAiFitHint: "AI opinion — strengths, gaps, and a tailored pitch based on your CV and this posting.",
     matchScoreTitle: "Match score",
     matchScoreLoading: "Scoring your CV against this role…",
     matchScoreBand_Strong: "Strong match",
@@ -902,7 +907,7 @@ export const translations = {
     matchScoreBand_Unknown: "Not enough signal",
     matchScoreKeywordsCovered: "{matched}/{total} keywords",
     matchScoreNoSignal: "Add more CV detail or a fuller job description to get a reliable score.",
-    matchScoreDeterministicHint: "Deterministic keyword coverage — no AI, so the score is stable and repeatable.",
+    matchScoreDeterministicHint: "Deterministic keyword coverage — no AI, so the score is stable and repeatable. For a written opinion on strengths and gaps, see the AI section below.",
     matchScoreMatched: "Matched keywords",
     matchScoreMissing: "Missing keywords",
     matchScoreNoneYet: "No matches found yet.",
@@ -1564,6 +1569,7 @@ export const translations = {
     googleAvailableToLink: "Tilgjengelig for kobling",
     googleLinkedDate: "Koblet {date}",
     googleSignInHint: "Logg inn med en Google-konto som allerede er koblet til Jobbjakt-brukeren din.",
+    googleSignInHintSelfServe: "Fortsett med Google. Ny her? Vi oppretter kontoen din automatisk.",
     continueWithGoogle: "Fortsett med Google",
     signInWithGoogle: "Logg inn med Google",
     linkWithGoogle: "Koble til med Google",
@@ -1708,6 +1714,9 @@ export const translations = {
     jobTableOverview: "Oversikt",
     jobTableNoSummaryYet: "Ingen oppsummering ennå.",
     jobTableNoJobsFound: "Ingen jobber funnet.",
+    jobTableEmptyFirstTimeTitle: "Ingen jobber ennå — la oss fikse det.",
+    jobTableEmptyFirstTimeBody: "Klikk \"Legg til jobb\" over for å legge til en manuelt, eller lim inn en lenke til en stillingsannonse. Det finnes også et bokmerke som fanger en annonse rett fra siden du ser på.",
+    jobTableEmptyFirstTimeBookmarklet: "Sett opp bokmerket",
     jobTableSetStatus: "Sett {status}",
     editJobTitle: "Rediger jobb",
     editJobIntro: "Oppdater jobbdetaljer, status i tidslinjen, dokumenter og notater fra ett redigeringsområde.",
@@ -1852,6 +1861,7 @@ export const translations = {
     jobDetailsFollowUpSent: "Oppfølging sendt og loggført.",
     jobDetailsFollowUpSendFailed: "Kunne ikke sende oppfølging.",
     jobDetailsHowYouMatch: "Slik matcher du",
+    jobDetailsAiFitHint: "AI-vurdering — styrker, svakheter og et skreddersydd pitch basert på CV-en din og denne annonsen.",
     matchScoreTitle: "Match-score",
     matchScoreLoading: "Vurderer CV-en mot denne stillingen…",
     matchScoreBand_Strong: "Sterk match",
@@ -1860,7 +1870,7 @@ export const translations = {
     matchScoreBand_Unknown: "For lite grunnlag",
     matchScoreKeywordsCovered: "{matched}/{total} nøkkelord",
     matchScoreNoSignal: "Legg til mer CV-innhold eller en fyldigere stillingstekst for en pålitelig score.",
-    matchScoreDeterministicHint: "Deterministisk nøkkelorddekning — ingen AI, så scoren er stabil og repeterbar.",
+    matchScoreDeterministicHint: "Deterministisk nøkkelorddekning — ingen AI, så scoren er stabil og repeterbar. For en skriftlig vurdering av styrker og svakheter, se AI-seksjonen under.",
     matchScoreMatched: "Treff på nøkkelord",
     matchScoreMissing: "Manglende nøkkelord",
     matchScoreNoneYet: "Ingen treff ennå.",