diff --git a/lib/apply/easy_apply.mjs b/lib/apply/easy_apply.mjs
index 33d7fa2..114e6a3 100644
--- a/lib/apply/easy_apply.mjs
+++ b/lib/apply/easy_apply.mjs
@@ -164,7 +164,6 @@ 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);
@@ -173,10 +172,10 @@ export async function apply(page, job, formFiller) {
       return { status: 'submitted', meta };
     }
 
-    // Read progress bar — use page.$() + evaluate on the handle
-    const progressEl = await page.$(`${MODAL} [role="progressbar"]`);
+    // Read progress bar — LinkedIn uses <progress> element (no explicit role="progressbar")
+    const progressEl = await page.$(`${MODAL} progress, ${MODAL} [role="progressbar"]`);
     const progress = progressEl
-      ? await progressEl.evaluate(el => el.getAttribute('aria-valuenow') || el.getAttribute('value') || el.style?.width || '').catch(() => '')
+      ? await progressEl.evaluate(el => el.getAttribute('aria-valuenow') || el.value?.toString() || el.getAttribute('value') || el.style?.width || '').catch(() => '')
       : '';
 
     // Debug snapshot using ElementHandle operations (shadow DOM safe)
@@ -229,14 +228,18 @@ export async function apply(page, job, formFiller) {
     if (nextBtn) {
       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) {
+      // Detect if we're stuck — wait for content to change after clicking Next
+      await page.waitForTimeout(CLICK_WAIT);
+      const newProgress = await (async () => {
+        const el = await page.$(`${MODAL} progress, ${MODAL} [role="progressbar"]`);
+        return el ? await el.evaluate(e => e.getAttribute('aria-valuenow') || e.value?.toString() || '').catch(() => '') : '';
+      })();
+
+      if (newProgress === progress) {
         samePageCount++;
-        if (samePageCount >= 2) {
-          console.log(`    [step ${step}] stuck — clicked Next but page didn't advance (${samePageCount} times)`);
+        if (samePageCount >= 3) {
+          console.log(`    [step ${step}] stuck — clicked Next ${samePageCount} times but progress unchanged at ${progress}`);
           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 };
@@ -244,8 +247,7 @@ export async function apply(page, job, formFiller) {
       } else {
         samePageCount = 0;
       }
-      lastProgress = progress;
-      lastHeading = curHeading;
+      lastProgress = newProgress;
       continue;
     }
 
@@ -259,7 +261,6 @@ 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;
     }