diff --git a/app/db/repo.py b/app/db/repo.py
index d9b30d7..4be34a9 100644
--- a/app/db/repo.py
+++ b/app/db/repo.py
@@ -17,14 +17,35 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 # fields a caller may set on an opportunity's state (status + the generated document ids + activity flags)
 _STATE_FIELDS = ("status", "tailored_resume_id", "tailored_version_id", "cover_letter_id", "seen", "viewed", "saved")
 
-# the search-defining pref fields — same values → same signature → cursor advances (new jobs);
-# change any → new signature → cursor resets to page 1.
-_SIG_FIELDS = ("title", "role", "location", "industry", "experience", "years", "work_mode", "remote")
+def _effective_title(prefs: dict) -> str:
+    """Match the board adapter's title precedence for cache identity."""
+    target_titles = prefs.get("targetTitles") or []
+    if target_titles and str(target_titles[0]).strip():
+        return str(target_titles[0]).strip()
+    title = str(prefs.get("title") or "").strip()
+    if title:
+        return title
+    for role in prefs.get("role") or []:
+        if role and role != "Open to any":
+            return str(role)
+    return ""
 
 
 def search_signature(prefs: dict) -> str:
     """Stable short hash of the search-defining prefs (ignores transient flags / user_context)."""
-    payload = {k: prefs.get(k) for k in _SIG_FIELDS}
+    # Canonicalize the fields exactly as the board adapters consume them. The
+    # dashboard contract is camelCase; work_mode remains a legacy fallback.
+    work_mode = prefs.get("workMode") if "workMode" in prefs else prefs.get("work_mode")
+    payload = {
+        "effective_title": _effective_title(prefs),
+        "role": prefs.get("role"),
+        "location": prefs.get("location"),
+        "industry": prefs.get("industry"),
+        "experience": prefs.get("experience"),
+        "years": prefs.get("years"),
+        "workMode": work_mode,
+        "remote": prefs.get("remote"),
+    }
     blob = json.dumps(payload, sort_keys=True, default=str)
     return hashlib.sha1(blob.encode()).hexdigest()[:16]
 
diff --git a/docker-compose.staging.yml b/docker-compose.staging.yml
index 355f8ef..3975d9e 100644
--- a/docker-compose.staging.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.staging.yml
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ services:
         condition: service_healthy
       redis:
         condition: service_started
-    command: uvicorn app.main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000
+    command: sh -c "alembic upgrade head && exec uvicorn app.main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000"
     restart: unless-stopped
 
   postgres:
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index b15bf86..e809011 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       # inside the compose network the DB host is `postgres` (overrides the host-dev .env value)
       DATABASE_URL: postgresql+asyncpg://matchmaking:matchmaking@postgres:5432/matchmaking
+    command: sh -c "alembic upgrade head && exec uvicorn app.main:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000"
     depends_on:
       postgres:
         condition: service_healthy
diff --git a/tests/test_pool.py b/tests/test_pool.py
index 121607f..30f6d21 100644
--- a/tests/test_pool.py
+++ b/tests/test_pool.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """Warm-pool gate — the reorder/floor decision that keeps the shelf stocked without over-fetching."""
 from app.engine.search import pool_decision
+from app.db.repo import search_signature
 
 FLOOR, REORDER = 90, 100   # the configured thresholds (POOL_SAFETY_FLOOR / POOL_REORDER_AT)
 
@@ -39,3 +40,29 @@ def test_floor_never_above_reorder_invariant():
     from app.config import get_settings
     s = get_settings()
     assert s.POOL_SAFETY_FLOOR <= s.POOL_REORDER_AT
+
+
+def test_target_title_changes_search_signature():
+    base = {
+        "title": "Product Manager",
+        "role": ["Product"],
+        "targetTitles": ["Backend Engineer"],
+        "location": ["Bangalore · India"],
+        "workMode": ["Hybrid"],
+    }
+    changed = {**base, "targetTitles": ["Data Analyst"]}
+
+    assert search_signature(base) != search_signature(changed)
+
+
+def test_work_mode_changes_search_signature_using_dashboard_contract():
+    base = {"title": "Data Analyst", "location": ["Bangalore · India"], "workMode": ["Hybrid"]}
+    changed = {**base, "workMode": ["Remote"]}
+
+    assert search_signature(base) != search_signature(changed)
+
+
+def test_legacy_and_camel_case_work_mode_have_same_signature():
+    common = {"title": "Data Analyst", "location": ["Bangalore · India"]}
+
+    assert search_signature({**common, "workMode": ["Hybrid"]}) == search_signature({**common, "work_mode": ["Hybrid"]})