diff --git a/apps/x/packages/core/src/knowledge/tag_system.ts b/apps/x/packages/core/src/knowledge/tag_system.ts
index 4c9741d6..317c7d70 100644
--- a/apps/x/packages/core/src/knowledge/tag_system.ts
+++ b/apps/x/packages/core/src/knowledge/tag_system.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ const DEFAULT_TAG_DEFINITIONS: TagDefinition[] = [
   { tag: 'prospect', type: 'relationship', applicability: 'both', noteEffect: 'create', description: 'Potential customers — people who want to BUY from you. NOT someone pitching their services to you — that is cold-outreach.', example: 'Thanks for the demo yesterday. We\'re interested in starting a pilot.' },
   { tag: 'partner', type: 'relationship', applicability: 'both', noteEffect: 'create', description: 'Business partners, corp dev, or strategic contacts', example: 'Let\'s discuss how we can promote the integration to both our user bases.' },
   { tag: 'vendor', type: 'relationship', applicability: 'both', noteEffect: 'create', description: 'Service providers you already pay or have a contract with (legal, accounting, infra). NOT someone pitching their services to you — that is cold-outreach.', example: 'Here are the updated employment agreements you requested.' },
-  { tag: 'candidate', type: 'relationship', applicability: 'both', noteEffect: 'create', description: 'Job applicants responding to a specific open role, or recruiters pitching candidates for your roles. NOT unsolicited students, strangers, or anyone cold-emailing about jobs, internships, or offering free work — that is cold-outreach.', example: 'Thanks for reaching out. I\'d love to learn more about the engineering role.' },
+  { tag: 'candidate', type: 'noise', applicability: 'email', noteEffect: 'skip', description: 'Job applicants, recruiters, and anyone reaching out about roles — both solicited and unsolicited', example: 'Thanks for reaching out. I\'d love to learn more about the engineering role.' },
   { tag: 'team', type: 'relationship', applicability: 'both', noteEffect: 'create', description: 'Internal team members and co-founders', example: 'Here\'s the updated roadmap for Q2. Let\'s discuss in our sync.' },
   { tag: 'advisor', type: 'relationship', applicability: 'both', noteEffect: 'create', description: 'Advisors, mentors, or board members', example: 'I\'ve reviewed the deck. Here are my thoughts on the GTM strategy.' },
   { tag: 'personal', type: 'relationship', applicability: 'both', noteEffect: 'create', description: 'Family or friends', example: 'Are you coming to Thanksgiving this year? Let me know your travel dates.' },