diff --git a/SKILL.md b/SKILL.md
index a3a5563..a0406b6 100644
--- a/SKILL.md
+++ b/SKILL.md
@@ -109,19 +109,23 @@ pm2 save
 pm2 startup             # follow the printed command (requires sudo)
 ```
 
-**PM2 cheatsheet:**
-```bash
-pm2 list                        # show all jobs + status
-pm2 logs claw-searcher          # tail searcher logs
-pm2 logs claw-applier           # tail applier logs
-pm2 start claw-applier          # enable applier
-pm2 stop claw-applier           # pause applier
-pm2 restart claw-searcher       # restart searcher now
+PM2 manages the processes but **does not schedule them** — scheduling is handled by system cron. This ensures a running searcher is never killed mid-run. If it's already running, the cron invocation hits the lockfile and exits immediately.
+
+Add to crontab (`crontab -e`):
+```
+0 * * * * cd /path/to/claw-apply && node job_searcher.mjs >> /tmp/claw-searcher.log 2>&1
+0 */6 * * * cd /path/to/claw-apply && node job_applier.mjs >> /tmp/claw-applier.log 2>&1
 ```
 
-Schedules (set in `ecosystem.config.cjs`):
-- **Searcher**: `0 * * * *` (hourly)
-- **Applier**: `0 */6 * * *` (every 6h) — stopped by default, start when ready
+**PM2 cheatsheet:**
+```bash
+pm2 list                        # show all processes + status
+pm2 logs claw-searcher          # tail searcher logs
+pm2 logs claw-applier           # tail applier logs
+pm2 start claw-searcher         # run searcher now
+pm2 start claw-applier          # run applier now
+pm2 stop claw-applier           # stop applier mid-run
+```
 
 ### 7. Run manually
 
diff --git a/ecosystem.config.cjs b/ecosystem.config.cjs
index cd262bf..4c7ddc0 100644
--- a/ecosystem.config.cjs
+++ b/ecosystem.config.cjs
@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@
 module.exports = {
   apps: [
     {
+      // Searcher is triggered by system cron, not PM2 cron_restart.
+      // PM2 just manages the process — system cron runs: node job_searcher.mjs
+      // Lockfile prevents parallel runs: if already running, new invocation exits immediately.
       name: 'claw-searcher',
       script: 'job_searcher.mjs',
-      cron_restart: '0 * * * *',   // hourly
-      autorestart: false,           // don't restart on exit — it's a one-shot job
+      autorestart: false,  // one-shot — do not restart on exit
       watch: false,
       interpreter: 'node',
       log_file: '/tmp/claw-searcher.log',
@@ -19,7 +21,6 @@ module.exports = {
     {
       name: 'claw-applier',
       script: 'job_applier.mjs',
-      cron_restart: '0 */6 * * *', // every 6 hours
       autorestart: false,
       watch: false,
       interpreter: 'node',