diff --git a/.agents/skills/freehire-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts b/.agents/skills/freehire-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fad5654
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/freehire-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { apiGet } from "../src/helpers";
+
+// The portal contract requires backoff on 429/5xx. These tests pin the retry
+// loop offline: a stubbed fetch counts attempts, and a stubbed setTimeout
+// fires immediately so the exhaustion case does not sleep through the real
+// 500ms -> 8s backoff schedule. apiGet's documented graceful-degradation
+// contract (connection failures fail fast, no retry) is pinned too.
+
+const originalFetch = globalThis.fetch;
+const originalSetTimeout = globalThis.setTimeout;
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  globalThis.fetch = originalFetch;
+  globalThis.setTimeout = originalSetTimeout;
+});
+
+function instantTimers() {
+  globalThis.setTimeout = ((fn: () => void) =>
+    originalSetTimeout(fn, 0)) as unknown as typeof setTimeout;
+}
+
+function stubFetch(responses: Array<() => Response>): { calls: number } {
+  const state = { calls: 0 };
+  globalThis.fetch = (async () => {
+    const i = Math.min(state.calls, responses.length - 1);
+    state.calls++;
+    return responses[i]();
+  }) as unknown as typeof fetch;
+  return state;
+}
+
+describe("apiGet retry/backoff", () => {
+  test("retries a 429 and succeeds on the next attempt", async () => {
+    instantTimers();
+    const state = stubFetch([
+      () => new Response("", { status: 429 }),
+      () => new Response('{"data":[]}', { status: 200 }),
+    ]);
+
+    const envelope = await apiGet<unknown[]>("/x");
+    expect(envelope).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  test("returns the documented null on 404 without retrying", async () => {
+    const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 404 })]);
+
+    const envelope = await apiGet("/x");
+    expect(envelope).toBeNull();
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  test("gives up after the initial attempt plus six retries on persistent 5xx", async () => {
+    instantTimers();
+    const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 500 })]);
+
+    await expect(apiGet("/x")).rejects.toThrow(/500/);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(7);
+  });
+
+  test("fails fast on a connection error - no retry, per the graceful-degradation contract", async () => {
+    const state = { calls: 0 };
+    globalThis.fetch = (async () => {
+      state.calls++;
+      throw new TypeError("Unable to connect");
+    }) as unknown as typeof fetch;
+
+    await expect(apiGet("/x")).rejects.toThrow(/could not reach the freehire API/);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(1);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/.agents/skills/jobbank-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts b/.agents/skills/jobbank-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8af008d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/jobbank-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { fetchWithUA } from "../src/helpers";
+
+// The portal contract requires backoff on 429/5xx. These tests pin the retry
+// loop offline: a stubbed fetch counts attempts, and a stubbed setTimeout
+// fires immediately so the exhaustion case does not sleep through the real
+// 500ms -> 5s backoff schedule.
+//
+// fetchWithUA deliberately RETURNS non-retry statuses instead of throwing -
+// callers own 4xx handling (e.g. rssFetch's Cloudflare 403 message). The 4xx
+// test pins that contract.
+
+const originalFetch = globalThis.fetch;
+const originalSetTimeout = globalThis.setTimeout;
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  globalThis.fetch = originalFetch;
+  globalThis.setTimeout = originalSetTimeout;
+});
+
+function instantTimers() {
+  globalThis.setTimeout = ((fn: () => void) =>
+    originalSetTimeout(fn, 0)) as unknown as typeof setTimeout;
+}
+
+function stubFetch(responses: Array<() => Response>): { calls: number } {
+  const state = { calls: 0 };
+  globalThis.fetch = (async () => {
+    const i = Math.min(state.calls, responses.length - 1);
+    state.calls++;
+    return responses[i]();
+  }) as unknown as typeof fetch;
+  return state;
+}
+
+describe("fetchWithUA retry/backoff", () => {
+  test("retries a 429 and succeeds on the next attempt", async () => {
+    instantTimers();
+    const state = stubFetch([
+      () => new Response("", { status: 429 }),
+      () => new Response("ok", { status: 200 }),
+    ]);
+
+    const response = await fetchWithUA("https://jobbank.dk/x");
+    expect(response.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  test("returns a plain 4xx to the caller without retrying", async () => {
+    const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 403 })]);
+
+    const response = await fetchWithUA("https://jobbank.dk/x");
+    expect(response.status).toBe(403);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  test("gives up after the initial attempt plus six retries on persistent 5xx", async () => {
+    instantTimers();
+    const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 500 })]);
+
+    await expect(fetchWithUA("https://jobbank.dk/x")).rejects.toThrow(/500/);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(7);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/.agents/skills/jobdanmark-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts b/.agents/skills/jobdanmark-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eac8fe4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/jobdanmark-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { apiFetch, apiPost } from "../src/helpers";
+
+// The portal contract requires backoff on 429/5xx. These tests pin the retry
+// loop offline: a stubbed fetch counts attempts, and a stubbed setTimeout
+// fires immediately so the exhaustion case does not sleep through the real
+// 500ms -> 5s backoff schedule. apiFetch and apiPost carry separate copies of
+// the loop, so both are exercised to keep them from drifting apart.
+
+const originalFetch = globalThis.fetch;
+const originalSetTimeout = globalThis.setTimeout;
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  globalThis.fetch = originalFetch;
+  globalThis.setTimeout = originalSetTimeout;
+});
+
+function instantTimers() {
+  globalThis.setTimeout = ((fn: () => void) =>
+    originalSetTimeout(fn, 0)) as unknown as typeof setTimeout;
+}
+
+function stubFetch(responses: Array<() => Response>): { calls: number } {
+  const state = { calls: 0 };
+  globalThis.fetch = (async () => {
+    const i = Math.min(state.calls, responses.length - 1);
+    state.calls++;
+    return responses[i]();
+  }) as unknown as typeof fetch;
+  return state;
+}
+
+const wrappers: Array<[string, () => Promise<{ ok: boolean }>]> = [
+  ["apiFetch", () => apiFetch<{ ok: boolean }>("/x")],
+  ["apiPost", () => apiPost<{ ok: boolean }>("/x", {})],
+];
+
+for (const [name, call] of wrappers) {
+  describe(`${name} retry/backoff`, () => {
+    test("retries a 429 and succeeds on the next attempt", async () => {
+      instantTimers();
+      const state = stubFetch([
+        () => new Response("", { status: 429 }),
+        () => new Response('{"ok":true}', { status: 200 }),
+      ]);
+
+      const data = await call();
+      expect(data.ok).toBe(true);
+      expect(state.calls).toBe(2);
+    });
+
+    test("does not retry a plain 4xx", async () => {
+      const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 400 })]);
+
+      await expect(call()).rejects.toThrow(/400/);
+      expect(state.calls).toBe(1);
+    });
+
+    test("gives up after the initial attempt plus six retries on persistent 5xx", async () => {
+      instantTimers();
+      const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 500 })]);
+
+      await expect(call()).rejects.toThrow(/500/);
+      expect(state.calls).toBe(7);
+    });
+  });
+}
diff --git a/.agents/skills/jobindex-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts b/.agents/skills/jobindex-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..661f182
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/jobindex-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { apiFetch, htmlFetch } from "../src/helpers";
+
+// The portal contract requires backoff on 429/5xx. These tests pin the retry
+// loop offline: a stubbed fetch counts attempts, and a stubbed setTimeout
+// fires immediately so the exhaustion case does not sleep through the real
+// 500ms -> 5s backoff schedule. apiFetch and htmlFetch carry separate copies
+// of the loop, so both are exercised to keep them from drifting apart.
+
+const originalFetch = globalThis.fetch;
+const originalSetTimeout = globalThis.setTimeout;
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  globalThis.fetch = originalFetch;
+  globalThis.setTimeout = originalSetTimeout;
+});
+
+function instantTimers() {
+  globalThis.setTimeout = ((fn: () => void) =>
+    originalSetTimeout(fn, 0)) as unknown as typeof setTimeout;
+}
+
+function stubFetch(responses: Array<() => Response>): { calls: number } {
+  const state = { calls: 0 };
+  globalThis.fetch = (async () => {
+    const i = Math.min(state.calls, responses.length - 1);
+    state.calls++;
+    return responses[i]();
+  }) as unknown as typeof fetch;
+  return state;
+}
+
+describe("htmlFetch retry/backoff", () => {
+  test("retries a 429 and succeeds on the next attempt", async () => {
+    instantTimers();
+    const state = stubFetch([
+      () => new Response("", { status: 429 }),
+      () => new Response("<html>ok</html>", { status: 200 }),
+    ]);
+
+    const html = await htmlFetch("https://www.jobindex.dk/x");
+    expect(html).toContain("ok");
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  test("does not retry a plain 4xx", async () => {
+    const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 400 })]);
+
+    await expect(htmlFetch("https://www.jobindex.dk/x")).rejects.toThrow(/400/);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  test("gives up after the initial attempt plus six retries on persistent 5xx", async () => {
+    instantTimers();
+    const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 500 })]);
+
+    await expect(htmlFetch("https://www.jobindex.dk/x")).rejects.toThrow(/500/);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(7);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("apiFetch retry/backoff", () => {
+  test("retries a 429 and succeeds on the next attempt", async () => {
+    instantTimers();
+    const state = stubFetch([
+      () => new Response("", { status: 429 }),
+      () => new Response('{"ok":true}', { status: 200 }),
+    ]);
+
+    const data = await apiFetch<{ ok: boolean }>("/x");
+    expect(data.ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  test("does not retry a plain 4xx", async () => {
+    const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 400 })]);
+
+    await expect(apiFetch("/x")).rejects.toThrow(/400/);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  test("gives up after the initial attempt plus six retries on persistent 5xx", async () => {
+    instantTimers();
+    const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 500 })]);
+
+    await expect(apiFetch("/x")).rejects.toThrow(/500/);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(7);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/.agents/skills/jobnet-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts b/.agents/skills/jobnet-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7e4143
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/jobnet-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { apiFetch } from "../src/helpers";
+
+// The portal contract requires backoff on 429/5xx. These tests pin the retry
+// loop offline: a stubbed fetch counts attempts, and a stubbed setTimeout
+// fires immediately so the exhaustion case does not sleep through the real
+// 500ms -> 5s backoff schedule.
+
+const originalFetch = globalThis.fetch;
+const originalSetTimeout = globalThis.setTimeout;
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  globalThis.fetch = originalFetch;
+  globalThis.setTimeout = originalSetTimeout;
+});
+
+function instantTimers() {
+  globalThis.setTimeout = ((fn: () => void) =>
+    originalSetTimeout(fn, 0)) as unknown as typeof setTimeout;
+}
+
+function stubFetch(responses: Array<() => Response>): { calls: number } {
+  const state = { calls: 0 };
+  globalThis.fetch = (async () => {
+    const i = Math.min(state.calls, responses.length - 1);
+    state.calls++;
+    return responses[i]();
+  }) as unknown as typeof fetch;
+  return state;
+}
+
+describe("apiFetch retry/backoff", () => {
+  test("retries a 429 and succeeds on the next attempt", async () => {
+    instantTimers();
+    const state = stubFetch([
+      () => new Response("", { status: 429 }),
+      () => new Response('{"ok":true}', { status: 200 }),
+    ]);
+
+    const data = await apiFetch<{ ok: boolean }>("/x");
+    expect(data.ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  test("does not retry a plain 4xx", async () => {
+    const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 400 })]);
+
+    await expect(apiFetch("/x")).rejects.toThrow(/400/);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  test("gives up after the initial attempt plus six retries on persistent 5xx", async () => {
+    instantTimers();
+    const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 500 })]);
+
+    await expect(apiFetch("/x")).rejects.toThrow(/500/);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(7);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/.agents/skills/linkedin-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts b/.agents/skills/linkedin-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f2b418a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/skills/linkedin-search/cli/tests/retry-backoff.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { htmlFetch } from "../src/helpers";
+
+// The portal contract requires backoff on 429/5xx. These tests pin the retry
+// loop offline: a stubbed fetch counts attempts, and a stubbed setTimeout
+// fires immediately so the exhaustion case does not sleep through the real
+// 500ms -> 8s backoff schedule.
+
+const originalFetch = globalThis.fetch;
+const originalSetTimeout = globalThis.setTimeout;
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  globalThis.fetch = originalFetch;
+  globalThis.setTimeout = originalSetTimeout;
+});
+
+function instantTimers() {
+  globalThis.setTimeout = ((fn: () => void) =>
+    originalSetTimeout(fn, 0)) as unknown as typeof setTimeout;
+}
+
+function stubFetch(responses: Array<() => Response>): { calls: number } {
+  const state = { calls: 0 };
+  globalThis.fetch = (async () => {
+    const i = Math.min(state.calls, responses.length - 1);
+    state.calls++;
+    return responses[i]();
+  }) as unknown as typeof fetch;
+  return state;
+}
+
+describe("htmlFetch retry/backoff", () => {
+  test("retries a 429 and succeeds on the next attempt", async () => {
+    instantTimers();
+    const state = stubFetch([
+      () => new Response("", { status: 429 }),
+      () => new Response("<html>ok</html>", { status: 200 }),
+    ]);
+
+    const html = await htmlFetch("https://www.linkedin.com/x");
+    expect(html).toContain("ok");
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  test("returns the documented empty string on 404 without retrying", async () => {
+    const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 404 })]);
+
+    const html = await htmlFetch("https://www.linkedin.com/x");
+    expect(html).toBe("");
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  test("gives up after the initial attempt plus six retries on persistent 5xx", async () => {
+    instantTimers();
+    const state = stubFetch([() => new Response("", { status: 500 })]);
+
+    await expect(htmlFetch("https://www.linkedin.com/x")).rejects.toThrow(/500/);
+    expect(state.calls).toBe(7);
+  });
+});