# Where to Find Structured Mode Files in CareerOps: A Complete Directory Guide > Locate structured mode files in CareerOps effortlessly. Discover global, user, and workflow specific files within the modes directory guide. - Repository: [Santiago Fernández de Valderrama/career-ops](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-08-22 --- **CareerOps stores all structured mode files in the top-level `modes/` directory, with global configuration in [`modes/_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/_shared.md), user preferences in [`modes/_profile.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/_profile.md), and workflow-specific prompts like [`modes/oferta.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/oferta.md) and [`modes/pipeline.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/pipeline.md) alongside localized subdirectories for international markets.** The open-source **santifer/career-ops** repository organizes its prompt-driven automation system through a centralized `modes/` directory. Understanding the location and purpose of these **structured mode files** is essential for customizing evaluation workflows, localization, and user-specific archetype configurations. ## Top-Level Mode Directory Layout All **structured mode files** reside in the repository root under `modes/`. This directory serves as the single source of truth for prompt templates that drive the application's evaluation, application generation, and interview-prep workflows. The architecture separates global shared context from user-specific overrides and market-specific localizations. ### Global Configuration Files Two critical files sit at the root of `modes/` and provide the foundation for all operations: - **[`modes/_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/_shared.md)** – Contains the system-wide context including archetype taxonomy, scoring rules, spend-tier mapping, and market overrides that every mode inherits. - **[`modes/_profile.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/_profile.md)** – Stores user-specific customizations such as preferred archetypes, narrative style preferences, and personal configuration (complemented by [`config/profile.yml`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/config/profile.yml)). ## Workflow-Specific Mode Files Individual workflow prompts are stored as standalone Markdown files in the `modes/` root for the default English market: - **[`modes/oferta.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/oferta.md)** – Powers the **evaluation** workflow, implementing the A-F scoring system for job classification and opportunity assessment. - **[`modes/pipeline.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/pipeline.md)** – Orchestrates sub-agents to process pending URL lists and manage batch evaluation operations. - **[`modes/scan.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/scan.md)** – Implements the zero-token portal scanner for detecting job platforms like Greenhouse and Lever without API costs. - **[`modes/apply.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/apply.md)** – Generates draft application emails and LinkedIn messages based on evaluated job criteria. - **[`modes/interview/practice.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/interview/practice.md)** – Provides structured interview preparation, planning frameworks, and debriefing capabilities. ## Localization and Market-Specific Modes For international users, **structured mode files** are organized into language-specific subdirectories that mirror the root layout. Each market folder contains a localized [`_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/_shared.md) plus translated workflow files adapted to local job markets. Common market directories include: - `modes/de/` – German language versions including [`modes/de/_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/de/_shared.md) and [`modes/de/offert.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/de/offert.md) (the localized evaluation prompt). - `modes/zh/` – Chinese localization with corresponding workflow files. - `modes/ja/` – Japanese localization using files like [`modes/ja/kyujin.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/ja/kyujin.md) for job evaluation. - `modes/fr/` – French versions with [`modes/fr/_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/fr/_shared.md) and [`modes/fr/oferta.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/fr/oferta.md), including README documentation mapping local files to global contexts. When operating in a specific market, CareerOps loads the localized [`_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/_shared.md) (e.g., [`modes/fr/_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/fr/_shared.md)) alongside the translated workflow files (e.g., [`modes/fr/oferta.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/fr/oferta.md)). The system maintains the core logic defined in the English source files while applying cultural and linguistic context through the subdirectory structure. ## Executing Different Modes To invoke these **structured mode files**, use the CLI with the appropriate command. Set environment variables to switch between market-specific directories without changing file references in your commands. Run the default English evaluation on a job posting: ```bash node codex exec "career-ops evaluate https://example.com/job" ``` Switch to German market modes by setting the modes directory: ```bash export LANG_OUTPUT=en export LANG_MODES_DIR=modes/de node codex exec "career-ops evaluate https://example.com/job-de" ``` Execute the pipeline mode for batch URL processing: ```bash node codex exec "career-ops pipeline" ``` Trigger the zero-token scanner for portal detection: ```bash node codex exec "career-ops scan" ``` Draft an application using the apply mode: ```bash node codex exec "career-ops apply https://example.com/job" ``` ## Summary - **CareerOps structured mode files** are centralized in the `modes/` directory at the repository root. - Global system configuration lives in [`modes/_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/_shared.md), while personal settings reside in [`modes/_profile.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/_profile.md) (supported by [`config/profile.yml`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/config/profile.yml)). - Workflow-specific prompts—including evaluation ([`oferta.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/oferta.md)), pipeline processing ([`pipeline.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/pipeline.md)), portal scanning ([`scan.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/scan.md)), and application drafting ([`apply.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/apply.md))—are stored in the root for English defaults. - International markets use subdirectories like `modes/de/`, `modes/ja/`, and `modes/fr/` containing localized [`_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/_shared.md) files and translated workflow prompts such as [`modes/de/offert.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/de/offert.md) and [`modes/ja/kyujin.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/ja/kyujin.md). - The system loads market-specific contexts dynamically based on the `LANG_MODES_DIR` environment variable. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the difference between [`modes/_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/_shared.md) and [`modes/_profile.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/_profile.md)? According to the **santifer/career-ops** source code, [`modes/_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/_shared.md) contains the global system context including archetype definitions, scoring rules, and spend-tier mappings that apply universally across all workflows. In contrast, [`modes/_profile.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/_profile.md) stores individualized preferences such as your preferred archetypes and narrative style settings, allowing you to customize outputs without modifying the core system logic. ### How do I add support for a new language market in CareerOps? Create a new subdirectory under `modes/` using the appropriate ISO language code (e.g., `modes/es/` for Spanish), then copy the English root files including [`_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/_shared.md) and the workflow files like [`oferta.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/oferta.md). Translate the prompt content while preserving the structural markers and archetype references. As implemented in the repository, the system automatically detects and loads these files when you set `LANG_MODES_DIR=modes/es`. ### Can I override specific archetype definitions without modifying [`modes/_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/_shared.md)? Yes. Place your customized archetype definitions or scoring rules in [`modes/_profile.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/_profile.md) or [`config/profile.yml`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/config/profile.yml). The CareerOps engine loads [`_profile.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/_profile.md) after [`_shared.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/_shared.md), allowing your user-specific settings to override the global defaults while maintaining compatibility with upstream updates to the core **structured mode files**. ### Where are the interview preparation prompts stored in the CareerOps repository? The interview preparation workflow is located at [`modes/interview/practice.md`](https://github.com/santifer/career-ops/blob/main/modes/interview/practice.md). This file contains the structured prompts for practice sessions, planning frameworks, and debriefing questions, separate from the job evaluation and application drafting modes stored in the root `modes/` directory.