| name | length-check |
| description | Verify that a drafted application document complies with the framework's word-count and character-count discipline before delivery — document-type word bands, any matrix-row or brief-stated override, and (critically) per-question hard character limits on job-platform screening questions (e.g. Seek's 1,000 characters per question, which the platform truncates silently). Use whenever a draft is about to be saved to Submissions/ or presented as final output. Also use when the candidate asks to 'check the length', 'count words', or 'is this within the limit'. Mechanical (~5–10 sec per document). |
Length Check — word and character compliance skill
Setup note: This is a template skeleton. The default bands below match the framework's Project_Instructions.md STEP 1 Length section — keep the two in sync if you tune them.
When to invoke
- Default trigger: before saving any
.docx to [Workspace Folder Path]/Submissions/, any screening-question response, or any short recruiter-response draft.
- Explicit triggers: "check the length", "count words", "verify the character count", "how long is this".
Bands (defaults — matrix-row or brief-stated overrides win)
| Document type | Band |
|---|
| Cover Letter | 900–1,250 words |
| Statement of Claims | 1,000–1,250 words |
| Targeted Pitch | 600–1,000 words |
| Short recruiter response | strictly per the stated character / word limit |
| Platform screening question | hard per-question character limit (Seek: 1,000 chars; plain text only) |
Method
- Identify the document type and the operative band (brief-stated limit > matrix-row band > default band).
- Count words per section and characters per screening answer. Count smart quotes, en/em-dashes as one character each.
- Verdict per section: pass / over / under, with the delta and a recommended action (what to trim or where to add substance).
- For an over-limit screening answer: recommend leading with the strongest one or two anchor proof points and dropping the rest — never deliver text the platform will truncate mid-sentence.
Output and gate behaviour
Per-section table (section / count / band / verdict / action), then overall verdict. Gate: band breaches block delivery until amended or the candidate explicitly accepts; hard platform character limits always block — no acceptance path (silent truncation is worse than any trim).
