diff --git a/lib/apply/easy_apply.mjs b/lib/apply/easy_apply.mjs
index e340143..1ee42f4 100644
--- a/lib/apply/easy_apply.mjs
+++ b/lib/apply/easy_apply.mjs
@@ -112,7 +112,21 @@ export async function apply(page, job, formFiller) {
 
   // Scroll slightly to trigger lazy-loaded content, then wait for Easy Apply button
   await page.evaluate(() => window.scrollTo(0, 300)).catch(() => {});
-  const eaBtn = await page.waitForSelector(LINKEDIN_APPLY_BUTTON_SELECTOR, { timeout: 12000, state: 'attached' }).catch(() => null);
+  let eaBtn = await page.waitForSelector(LINKEDIN_APPLY_BUTTON_SELECTOR, { timeout: 12000, state: 'attached' }).catch(() => null);
+
+  // Fallback: LinkedIn shows plain "Continue" when a draft exists (not a button — a span)
+  // Look for it via the apply URL pattern in the page
+  if (!eaBtn) {
+    const continueEl = await page.$(`a[href*="/apply/"] span, [class*="apply"] span`);
+    if (continueEl) {
+      const text = await continueEl.evaluate(el => (el.innerText || '').trim()).catch(() => '');
+      if (text === 'Continue') {
+        eaBtn = continueEl;
+        console.log(`    ℹ️  Found "Continue" element (draft application)`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   if (!eaBtn) {
     console.log(`    ℹ️  No Easy Apply button found. Page URL: ${page.url()}`);
     console.log(`    Action: job may have been removed, filled, or changed to external apply`);
@@ -139,6 +153,8 @@ export async function apply(page, job, formFiller) {
 
   // Step through modal
   let lastProgress = '-1';
+  let lastHeading = '';
+  let samePageCount = 0;
   for (let step = 0; step < LINKEDIN_MAX_MODAL_STEPS; step++) {
     const modalStillOpen = await page.$(MODAL);
     if (!modalStillOpen) {
@@ -203,7 +219,22 @@ export async function apply(page, job, formFiller) {
       console.log(`    [step ${step}] clicking Next`);
       await nextBtn.click({ timeout: APPLY_CLICK_TIMEOUT }).catch(() => {});
       await page.waitForTimeout(CLICK_WAIT);
+
+      // Detect if we're stuck — same heading+progress means page didn't advance
+      const curHeading = debugInfo.heading;
+      if (curHeading === lastHeading && progress === lastProgress) {
+        samePageCount++;
+        if (samePageCount >= 2) {
+          console.log(`    [step ${step}] stuck — clicked Next but page didn't advance (${samePageCount} times)`);
+          console.log(`    Action: a required field may be unfilled. Check select dropdowns still at "Select an option"`);
+          await dismissModal(page, MODAL);
+          return { status: 'stuck', meta };
+        }
+      } else {
+        samePageCount = 0;
+      }
       lastProgress = progress;
+      lastHeading = curHeading;
       continue;
     }
 
@@ -217,6 +248,8 @@ export async function apply(page, job, formFiller) {
       await reviewBtn.click({ timeout: APPLY_CLICK_TIMEOUT }).catch(() => {});
       await page.waitForTimeout(CLICK_WAIT);
       lastProgress = progress;
+      lastHeading = debugInfo.heading;
+      samePageCount = 0;
       continue;
     }
 
@@ -244,12 +277,8 @@ export async function apply(page, job, formFiller) {
       return { status: 'incomplete', meta };
     }
 
-    // Stuck detection — progress hasn't changed and we've been through a few steps
-    if (progress && progress === lastProgress && step > 2) {
-      console.log(`    [step ${step}] stuck — progress unchanged at ${progress}`);
-      await dismissModal(page, MODAL);
-      return { status: 'stuck', meta };
-    }
+    // Stuck detection — no Next/Review/Submit found
+    // (stuck-after-click detection is handled above in the Next button section)
 
     console.log(`    [step ${step}] ❌ No Next/Review/Submit button found in modal`);
     console.log(`    Action: LinkedIn may have changed button text/structure. Check button snapshot above.`);
diff --git a/lib/form_filler.mjs b/lib/form_filler.mjs
index 364618a..02f831d 100644
--- a/lib/form_filler.mjs
+++ b/lib/form_filler.mjs
@@ -285,7 +285,8 @@ export class FormFiller {
       if (!await sel.isVisible().catch(() => false)) continue;
       const lbl = await this.getLabel(sel);
       const existing = await sel.inputValue().catch(() => '');
-      if (existing) continue;
+      // "Select an option" is LinkedIn's placeholder — treat as unfilled
+      if (existing && !/^select an? /i.test(existing)) continue;
       const answer = this.answerFor(lbl);
       if (answer) {
         await sel.selectOption({ label: answer }).catch(async () => {