diff --git a/app/api/__tests__/jobs.test.ts b/app/api/__tests__/jobs.test.ts
index ed06bec..4883ca3 100644
--- a/app/api/__tests__/jobs.test.ts
+++ b/app/api/__tests__/jobs.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { NextRequest } from "next/server";
-import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
-import { POST } from "@/app/api/jobs/route";
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { DELETE, POST } from "@/app/api/jobs/route";
 import { readJobs, writeJobs } from "@/lib/jobs-repository";
 import { generateAiSummary } from "@/lib/job-summary-server";
 import type { JobsData } from "@/lib/jobs";
@@ -22,6 +22,14 @@ function request(body: unknown) {
   });
 }
 
+function deleteRequest(body: unknown) {
+  return new NextRequest("http://localhost/api/jobs", {
+    method: "DELETE",
+    body: JSON.stringify(body),
+    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+  });
+}
+
 function emptyJobs(): JobsData {
   return { applied: [], prospect: [], local: [], staffing: [], passed: [], pending: [] };
 }
@@ -61,3 +69,33 @@ describe("POST /api/jobs", () => {
     }));
   });
 });
+
+describe("DELETE /api/jobs (move to applied)", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    vi.setSystemTime(new Date("2026-07-16T12:00:00Z"));
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+  });
+
+  it("stamps today's date when a job with no date moves into applied", async () => {
+    vi.mocked(readJobs).mockResolvedValue({
+      ...emptyJobs(),
+      prospect: [{ company: "Acme", role: "Designer", fit: "good", salary: "", notes: "", url: "" }],
+    });
+
+    const response = await DELETE(deleteRequest({
+      section: "prospect",
+      company: "Acme",
+      role: "Designer",
+      targetSection: "applied",
+    }));
+
+    expect(response.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(writeJobs).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
+      applied: [expect.objectContaining({ date: "2026-07-16" })],
+    }));
+  });
+});
diff --git a/app/api/jobs/route.ts b/app/api/jobs/route.ts
index d13a2f0..f33e7d7 100644
--- a/app/api/jobs/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/jobs/route.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ function normalizeJobForSection(job: AnyJob, targetSection: JobSection): AnyJob
   const normalized = { ...job };
   if (targetSection === "applied") {
     if (!normalized.status) normalized.status = "applied";
-    if (normalized.date === undefined) normalized.date = "";
+    if (!normalized.date) normalized.date = new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 10);
   } else if (targetSection === "prospect" || targetSection === "local" || targetSection === "staffing") {
     if (!normalized.fit) normalized.fit = "good";
   }