diff --git a/frontend/src/app/AppLayout.jsx b/frontend/src/app/AppLayout.jsx
index 22d4d3a..13ba098 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/AppLayout.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/AppLayout.jsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import AiDock from './AiDock'
 import { ROUTE_BY_PATH } from './routes'
 import { useBadges, useHotkeys, useNavOpen, useRouteMeta, useSidebarCollapsed } from './useShell'
 import Icon from '../ui/icons'
+import ErrorBoundary from '../components/ErrorBoundary'
 import Spinner from '../components/Spinner'
 
 export default function AppLayout() {
@@ -49,9 +50,12 @@ export default function AppLayout() {
       <div className="main-wrap">
         <Topbar onOpenNav={() => setNavOpen((o) => !o)} searchRef={searchRef} />
         <main className="content" id="main-content" ref={contentRef}>
-          <Suspense fallback={<div className="route-loading"><Spinner label="Loading" /></div>}>
-            <Outlet />
-          </Suspense>
+          {/* Keyed by pathname: navigating away from a crashed screen resets it. */}
+          <ErrorBoundary key={location.pathname}>
+            <Suspense fallback={<div className="route-loading"><Spinner label="Loading" /></div>}>
+              <Outlet />
+            </Suspense>
+          </ErrorBoundary>
         </main>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ErrorBoundary.jsx b/frontend/src/components/ErrorBoundary.jsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..226b5b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ErrorBoundary.jsx
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+/* ============================================================
+   ErrorBoundary — a throw in any lazy screen used to blank the whole app.
+   Mounted around the route outlet in AppLayout, keyed by pathname so simply
+   navigating away resets it.
+   ============================================================ */
+
+import { Component } from 'react'
+import { EmptyState } from '../ui/primitives'
+
+export default class ErrorBoundary extends Component {
+  state = { error: null }
+
+  static getDerivedStateFromError(error) {
+    return { error }
+  }
+
+  componentDidCatch(error, info) {
+    console.error('Screen crashed:', error, info?.componentStack)
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    if (this.state.error) {
+      return (
+        <div className="page">
+          <EmptyState icon="alert" title="Something went wrong">
+            This screen hit an unexpected error. The rest of the app is fine —
+            try again, or head back to the dashboard.
+          </EmptyState>
+          <div style={{ textAlign: 'center' }}>
+            <button className="btn btn-secondary" onClick={() => this.setState({ error: null })}>
+              Try again
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      )
+    }
+    return this.props.children
+  }
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/screens/Assessments.jsx b/frontend/src/screens/Assessments.jsx
index 0781205..12e161a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/screens/Assessments.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/screens/Assessments.jsx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import DataTable from '../ui/DataTable'
 import Modal from '../ui/Modal'
 import PageHeader from '../ui/PageHeader'
-import { Avatar, Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon, KpiCard, ProgressBar, ScoreChip } from '../ui/primitives'
+import { Avatar, Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon, KpiCard, ProgressBar, ScoreChip, SkeletonRows } from '../ui/primitives'
 import { useToast } from '../ui/Toast'
 import { useAuth } from '../auth/AuthContext'
 import { useFormState } from '../components/AuthLayout'
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ export default function Assessments() {
       <div className="card">
         {listQuery.isPending && (
           <div className="card-body">
-            <EmptyState icon="check-square" title="Loading…">Fetching assessments from the server.</EmptyState>
+            <SkeletonRows rows={6} />
           </div>
         )}
         {listQuery.isError && (
diff --git a/frontend/src/screens/Candidates.jsx b/frontend/src/screens/Candidates.jsx
index 5d4f074..caa1d6a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/screens/Candidates.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/screens/Candidates.jsx
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import Modal from '../ui/Modal'
 import { DataTableHead, Pagination, useDataTable } from '../ui/DataTable'
 import PageHeader from '../ui/PageHeader'
-import { Avatar, Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon } from '../ui/primitives'
+import { Avatar, Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon, SkeletonRows } from '../ui/primitives'
 import { useToast } from '../ui/Toast'
 import CandidateProfile from './CandidateProfile'
 import { useJobTitles } from './ScoredCandidateProfile'
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ export default function Candidates() {
 
         {candidatesQuery.isPending && (
           <div className="card-body">
-            <EmptyState icon="users" title="Loading…">Fetching candidates from the server.</EmptyState>
+            <SkeletonRows rows={6} />
           </div>
         )}
         {candidatesQuery.isError && (
diff --git a/frontend/src/screens/Inbox.jsx b/frontend/src/screens/Inbox.jsx
index a506f9f..b550837 100644
--- a/frontend/src/screens/Inbox.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/screens/Inbox.jsx
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import EmailBody, { looksLikeHtml } from '../ui/EmailBody'
 import PageHeader from '../ui/PageHeader'
 import { Tabs } from '../ui/Tabs'
 import { Pagination, pageWindow } from '../ui/DataTable'
-import { Avatar, Badge, EmptyState, Icon, ScoreChip } from '../ui/primitives'
+import { Avatar, Badge, EmptyState, Icon, ScoreChip, SkeletonRows } from '../ui/primitives'
 import { JobCard, PickRoleModal } from '../ui/SuggestedRoles'
 import { useToast } from '../ui/Toast'
 import { useAuth } from '../auth/AuthContext'
@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ export default function Inbox() {
               </div>
               <div>
                 {applicationsQuery.isPending && (
-                  <EmptyState icon="inbox" title="Loading…">Fetching applications from the server.</EmptyState>
+                  <SkeletonRows rows={6} />
                 )}
                 {applicationsQuery.isError && (
                   <EmptyState icon="inbox" title="Couldn't load applications">
diff --git a/frontend/src/screens/Interviews.jsx b/frontend/src/screens/Interviews.jsx
index 0cfe17c..eb86c3c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/screens/Interviews.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/screens/Interviews.jsx
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import DataTable from '../ui/DataTable'
 import Modal from '../ui/Modal'
 import PageHeader from '../ui/PageHeader'
 import { Tabs } from '../ui/Tabs'
-import { Avatar, Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon, KpiCard, Stars } from '../ui/primitives'
+import { Avatar, Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon, KpiCard, SkeletonRows, Stars } from '../ui/primitives'
 import { useToast } from '../ui/Toast'
 import { qk } from '../lib/queryKeys'
 import { friendlyAuthError } from '../lib/errors'
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ export default function Interviews() {
 
           {listQuery.isPending && (
             <div className="card-body">
-              <EmptyState icon="calendar" title="Loading…">Fetching interviews from the server.</EmptyState>
+              <SkeletonRows rows={6} />
             </div>
           )}
           {listError && (
diff --git a/frontend/src/screens/Jobs.jsx b/frontend/src/screens/Jobs.jsx
index eca6816..e4a9420 100644
--- a/frontend/src/screens/Jobs.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/screens/Jobs.jsx
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import AiFieldAssist from '../ui/AiFieldAssist'
 import DataTable from '../ui/DataTable'
 import Modal from '../ui/Modal'
 import PageHeader from '../ui/PageHeader'
-import { Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon } from '../ui/primitives'
+import { Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon, SkeletonRows } from '../ui/primitives'
 import { useToast } from '../ui/Toast'
 import { useAuth } from '../auth/AuthContext'
 import { useFormState } from '../components/AuthLayout'
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ export default function Jobs() {
       <div className="card">
         {jobsQuery.isPending && (
           <div className="card-body">
-            <EmptyState icon="briefcase" title="Loading…">Fetching requisitions from the server.</EmptyState>
+            <SkeletonRows rows={6} />
           </div>
         )}
         {jobsQuery.isError && (
diff --git a/frontend/src/screens/Managers.jsx b/frontend/src/screens/Managers.jsx
index 7f87def..ca13d8c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/screens/Managers.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/screens/Managers.jsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { useMutation, useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 
 import Modal from '../ui/Modal'
 import PageHeader from '../ui/PageHeader'
-import { Avatar, Badge, EmptyState, Icon } from '../ui/primitives'
+import { Avatar, Badge, EmptyState, Icon, SkeletonRows } from '../ui/primitives'
 import { useToast } from '../ui/Toast'
 import { useAuth } from '../auth/AuthContext'
 import { qk } from '../lib/queryKeys'
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export default function Managers() {
       />
 
       {managersQuery.isPending && (
-        <EmptyState icon="managers" title="Loading…">Fetching hiring managers.</EmptyState>
+        <div className="card"><div className="card-body"><SkeletonRows rows={4} /></div></div>
       )}
       {managersQuery.isError && (
         <EmptyState icon="managers" title="Couldn’t load hiring managers">
diff --git a/frontend/src/screens/Notifications.jsx b/frontend/src/screens/Notifications.jsx
index 927be36..b6ad2ee 100644
--- a/frontend/src/screens/Notifications.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/screens/Notifications.jsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom'
 import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 
 import PageHeader from '../ui/PageHeader'
-import { EmptyState, Icon } from '../ui/primitives'
+import { EmptyState, Icon, SkeletonRows } from '../ui/primitives'
 import { useToast } from '../ui/Toast'
 import { qk } from '../lib/queryKeys'
 import { friendlyAuthError } from '../lib/errors'
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ export default function Notifications() {
       <div className="card">
         {query.isPending && (
           <div className="card-body">
-            <EmptyState icon="bell" title="Loading…">Fetching notifications.</EmptyState>
+            <SkeletonRows rows={5} />
           </div>
         )}
         {query.isError && (
diff --git a/frontend/src/screens/Offers.jsx b/frontend/src/screens/Offers.jsx
index f3f4e5e..a1de046 100644
--- a/frontend/src/screens/Offers.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/screens/Offers.jsx
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import DataTable from '../ui/DataTable'
 import Modal from '../ui/Modal'
 import PageHeader from '../ui/PageHeader'
-import { Avatar, Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon, KpiCard } from '../ui/primitives'
+import { Avatar, Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon, KpiCard, SkeletonRows } from '../ui/primitives'
 import { useToast } from '../ui/Toast'
 import { qk } from '../lib/queryKeys'
 import { friendlyAuthError } from '../lib/errors'
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ export default function Offers() {
 
         {offersQuery.isPending && (
           <div className="card-body">
-            <EmptyState icon="file" title="Loading…">Fetching offers from the server.</EmptyState>
+            <SkeletonRows rows={6} />
           </div>
         )}
         {offersQuery.isError && (
diff --git a/frontend/src/screens/Tasks.jsx b/frontend/src/screens/Tasks.jsx
index bec4f1b..901b59c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/screens/Tasks.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/screens/Tasks.jsx
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 
 import Modal from '../ui/Modal'
 import PageHeader from '../ui/PageHeader'
-import { Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon, PRIORITY_CLASS } from '../ui/primitives'
+import { Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon, PRIORITY_CLASS, SkeletonRows } from '../ui/primitives'
 import { useToast } from '../ui/Toast'
 import { useAuth } from '../auth/AuthContext'
 import { useFormState } from '../components/AuthLayout'
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ export default function Tasks() {
           <div className="card-body">
             <div className="list-tight">
               {tasksQuery.isPending ? (
-                <EmptyState icon="check-square" title="Loading…">Fetching tasks from the server.</EmptyState>
+                <SkeletonRows rows={5} />
               ) : tasksQuery.isError ? (
                 <EmptyState icon="alert" title="Couldn’t load tasks">
                   {friendlyAuthError(tasksQuery.error, 'Request failed')}
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/auth.css b/frontend/src/styles/auth.css
index a07d95f..0f550e6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles/auth.css
+++ b/frontend/src/styles/auth.css
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 }
 
 .auth-aside-copy h1 {
-  font-family: 'Belleza', Georgia, serif;
+  font-family: var(--font-display);
   font-size: clamp(32px, 4vw, 44px);
   line-height: 1.15;
   font-weight: 400;
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
 }
 
 .auth-brand .brand-name {
-  font-family: 'Belleza', Georgia, serif;
+  font-family: var(--font-display);
   font-weight: 400;
   letter-spacing: 0.2px;
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/styles.css b/frontend/src/styles/styles.css
index 3bdca50..d7c8c5b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/styles/styles.css
+++ b/frontend/src/styles/styles.css
@@ -866,6 +866,24 @@ canvas { width: 100%; max-width: 100%; display: block; }
              border-radius: 20px; background: var(--bg-sunken); color: var(--text-2); }
 .tab.active .tab-count { background: var(--primary-soft); color: var(--primary); }
 
+/* Skeleton loading (primitives.jsx SkeletonRows). The sweep uses --border,
+   which tracks the theme, so no per-theme rules are needed. */
+.skeleton {
+  position: relative; overflow: hidden;
+  background: var(--bg-sunken); border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+}
+.skeleton::after {
+  content: ''; position: absolute; inset: 0; transform: translateX(-100%);
+  background: linear-gradient(90deg, transparent, var(--border), transparent);
+  animation: skeletonSweep 1.4s infinite;
+}
+@keyframes skeletonSweep { to { transform: translateX(100%); } }
+.skeleton-row { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; padding: 13px 0; }
+.skeleton-row + .skeleton-row { border-top: 1px solid var(--border); }
+.skeleton-avatar { width: 34px; height: 34px; border-radius: 50%; flex-shrink: 0; }
+.skeleton-line { display: block; height: 11px; }
+.skeleton-line + .skeleton-line { margin-top: 7px; }
+
 /* Keyboard users jump straight past the 20+ sidebar links. */
 .skip-link { position: absolute; left: -9999px; z-index: 1000; }
 .skip-link:focus {
diff --git a/frontend/src/ui/primitives.jsx b/frontend/src/ui/primitives.jsx
index 4e53ce4..5783dc4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ui/primitives.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/ui/primitives.jsx
@@ -76,6 +76,23 @@ export function ProgressBar({ pct, className }) {
   )
 }
 
+/** Shimmer placeholder for a loading table/list — one row per record slot. */
+export function SkeletonRows({ rows = 5 }) {
+  return (
+    <div role="status" aria-label="Loading">
+      {Array.from({ length: rows }, (_, i) => (
+        <div className="skeleton-row" aria-hidden="true" key={i}>
+          <span className="skeleton skeleton-avatar" />
+          <div className="flex-1">
+            <span className="skeleton skeleton-line" style={{ width: `${52 - (i % 3) * 9}%` }} />
+            <span className="skeleton skeleton-line" style={{ width: `${34 - (i % 3) * 6}%` }} />
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      ))}
+    </div>
+  )
+}
+
 export function EmptyState({ icon = 'search', title = 'No results found', children }) {
   return (
     <div className="empty-state">