diff --git a/client/src/components/ui/ConfirmDialog.tsx b/client/src/components/ui/ConfirmDialog.tsx
index fd6f59ff7..24459ab72 100644
--- a/client/src/components/ui/ConfirmDialog.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/ui/ConfirmDialog.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,17 @@
-import { useEffect, useRef } from "react";
+import { useEffect, useRef, ReactNode } from "react";
+import { Loader2 } from "lucide-react";
 
 interface ConfirmDialogProps {
   open: boolean;
   title: string;
-  description: string;
+  description?: string;
   confirmLabel?: string;
   cancelLabel?: string;
   onConfirm: () => void;
   onCancel: () => void;
+  confirmVariant?: "danger" | "primary";
+  loading?: boolean;
+  children?: ReactNode;
 }
 
 export function ConfirmDialog({
@@ -18,18 +22,34 @@ export function ConfirmDialog({
   cancelLabel = "Cancel",
   onConfirm,
   onCancel,
+  confirmVariant = "danger",
+  loading = false,
+  children,
 }: ConfirmDialogProps) {
   const cancelRef = useRef<HTMLButtonElement>(null);
 
+  // Focus management
   useEffect(() => {
     if (open) cancelRef.current?.focus();
   }, [open]);
 
+  // Keyboard navigation & Escape key dismiss
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!open) return;
+    const handleKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
+      if (e.key === "Escape" && !loading) {
+        onCancel();
+      }
+    };
+    document.addEventListener("keydown", handleKeyDown);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener("keydown", handleKeyDown);
+  }, [open, loading, onCancel]);
+
   if (!open) return null;
 
   return (
     <div className="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-center">
-      <div className="fixed inset-0 bg-black/50" onClick={onCancel} />
+      <div className="fixed inset-0 bg-black/50" onClick={loading ? undefined : onCancel} />
       <div
         role="alertdialog"
         aria-modal="true"
@@ -40,21 +60,34 @@ export function ConfirmDialog({
         <h2 id="confirm-title" className="text-base font-semibold text-stone-900 dark:text-white">
           {title}
         </h2>
-        <p id="confirm-desc" className="mt-2 text-sm text-stone-600 dark:text-stone-400">
-          {description}
-        </p>
+        <div id="confirm-desc" className="mt-2 text-sm text-stone-600 dark:text-stone-400">
+          {children ? (
+            children
+          ) : (
+            <p className="leading-relaxed">
+              {description}
+            </p>
+          )}
+        </div>
         <div className="mt-5 flex justify-end gap-3">
           <button
             ref={cancelRef}
             onClick={onCancel}
-            className="px-4 py-2 text-sm rounded-lg border border-stone-200 dark:border-white/10 text-stone-700 dark:text-stone-300 hover:bg-stone-100 dark:hover:bg-white/5 transition-colors"
+            disabled={loading}
+            className="px-4 py-2 text-sm rounded-lg border border-stone-200 dark:border-white/10 text-stone-700 dark:text-stone-300 hover:bg-stone-100 dark:hover:bg-white/5 transition-colors disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed"
           >
             {cancelLabel}
           </button>
           <button
             onClick={onConfirm}
-            className="px-4 py-2 text-sm rounded-lg bg-red-600 hover:bg-red-700 text-white font-medium transition-colors"
+            disabled={loading}
+            className={`inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-4 py-2 text-sm rounded-lg font-medium transition-colors disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed ${
+              confirmVariant === "primary"
+                ? "bg-black dark:bg-white text-white dark:text-stone-950 hover:bg-stone-800 dark:hover:bg-stone-200"
+                : "bg-red-600 hover:bg-red-700 text-white"
+            }`}
           >
+            {loading && <Loader2 className="h-3.5 w-3.5 animate-spin" />}
             {confirmLabel}
           </button>
         </div>
@@ -62,3 +95,4 @@ export function ConfirmDialog({
     </div>
   );
 }
+
diff --git a/client/src/module/recruiter/applications/ApplicationsList.tsx b/client/src/module/recruiter/applications/ApplicationsList.tsx
index 4bc40d136..536c2b5ae 100644
--- a/client/src/module/recruiter/applications/ApplicationsList.tsx
+++ b/client/src/module/recruiter/applications/ApplicationsList.tsx
@@ -9,17 +9,18 @@ import api from "../../../lib/axios";
 import type { Application, Pagination } from "../../../lib/types";
 import { SEO } from "../../../components/SEO";
 import { useDebounce } from "../../../hooks/useDebounce";
+import { ConfirmDialog } from "../../../components/ui/ConfirmDialog";
 
 export default function ApplicationsList() {
   const { id: jobId } = useParams();
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
-  const [pagination, setPagination] = useState<Pagination | null>(null);
   const [search, setSearch] = useState("");
   const debouncedSearch = useDebounce(search, 300);
   const [statusFilter, setStatusFilter] = useState("");
   const [page, setPage] = useState(1);
   const [updatingId, setUpdatingId] = useState<number | null>(null);
   const [advancingIds, setAdvancingIds] = useState<Set<number>>(() => new Set());
+  const [pendingAdvanceApp, setPendingAdvanceApp] = useState<Application | null>(null);
 
   // Reset to page 1 when search or filter changes
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -30,15 +31,18 @@ export default function ApplicationsList() {
     queryKey: ["applications", jobId, page, statusFilter, debouncedSearch],
     queryFn: async () => {
       const params = new URLSearchParams({ page: String(page), limit: "10" });
-      if (debouncedSearch) params.set("search", debouncedSearch);
+      if (debouncedSearch.trim()) params.set("search", debouncedSearch.trim());
       if (statusFilter) params.set("status", statusFilter);
       const res = await api.get(`/recruiter/jobs/${jobId}/applications?${params}`);
-      setPagination(res.data.pagination);
-      return res.data.applications as Application[];
+      return {
+        applications: res.data.applications as Application[],
+        pagination: res.data.pagination as Pagination,
+      };
     },
   });
 
-  const applications = data ?? [];
+  const applications = data?.applications ?? [];
+  const pagination = data?.pagination ?? null;
 
   const handleStatusChange = async (appId: number, status: string) => {
     if (updatingId === appId) return;
@@ -61,6 +65,7 @@ export default function ApplicationsList() {
       await api.patch(`/recruiter/applications/${appId}/advance`);
       queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["applications"] });
       toast.success("Application advanced");
+      setPendingAdvanceApp(null);
     } catch {
       toast.error("Failed to advance application");
     } finally {
@@ -75,6 +80,31 @@ export default function ApplicationsList() {
   return (
     <div>
       <SEO title="Applications" noIndex />
+      <ConfirmDialog
+        open={pendingAdvanceApp !== null}
+        title="Advance Candidate?"
+        confirmLabel="Confirm Advance"
+        cancelLabel="Cancel"
+        confirmVariant="primary"
+        loading={pendingAdvanceApp ? advancingIds.has(pendingAdvanceApp.id) : false}
+        onCancel={() => setPendingAdvanceApp(null)}
+        onConfirm={() => {
+          if (pendingAdvanceApp && !advancingIds.has(pendingAdvanceApp.id)) {
+            handleAdvance(pendingAdvanceApp.id);
+          }
+        }}
+      >
+        {pendingAdvanceApp && (
+          <div className="space-y-4">
+            <p className="text-sm text-stone-600 dark:text-stone-400">
+              Are you sure you want to advance <strong className="font-semibold text-stone-900 dark:text-white">{pendingAdvanceApp.student?.name}</strong> to the next hiring stage?
+            </p>
+            <p className="text-xs text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400 bg-amber-50 dark:bg-amber-950/20 p-2.5 rounded-lg border border-amber-200/30 dark:border-amber-900/30 leading-normal">
+              Warning: Advancing this candidate will update their hiring stage and create a new round submission.
+            </p>
+          </div>
+        )}
+      </ConfirmDialog>
       <Link to="/recruiters/jobs" className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-500 hover:text-black dark:hover:text-white mb-4 no-underline">
         <ArrowLeft className="w-4 h-4" /> Back to Jobs
       </Link>
@@ -191,7 +221,7 @@ export default function ApplicationsList() {
                       </td>
                       <td className="px-6 py-4">
                         <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-                          <button onClick={() => handleAdvance(app.id)}
+                          <button onClick={() => setPendingAdvanceApp(app)}
                             disabled={isAdvancing}
                             className={`inline-flex min-w-21.5 items-center justify-center gap-1.5 text-xs px-3 py-1.5 bg-black dark:bg-white text-white dark:text-gray-950 rounded-lg hover:bg-gray-800 dark:hover:bg-gray-200 transition-colors ${isAdvancing ? "cursor-not-allowed opacity-70" : ""}`}>
                             {isAdvancing && <Loader2 className="h-3 w-3 animate-spin" />}