Candidate Library MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server library that gives LLMs access to information about a candidate.

Local serverstdioTypeScript

What is the Candidate Library MCP server?

Most developer tooling work still happens through a UI a human drives. Candidate Library MCP server moves it into the conversation instead. A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server library that gives LLMs access to information about a candidate.

The short version

  • Library-first design for integration into other applications
  • Modular resource system for extending with custom candidate information
  • TypeScript for type safety and better developer experience
  • Implements the full Model Context Protocol specification
  • Supports multiple transport types (STDIO, HTTP, Streamable HTTP)
  • Minimal dependencies

The tools it exposes

The server publishes 13 tools. What each one is for:

  • get_resume_text — Returns the candidate's resume content as text
  • get_resume_url — Returns the URL to the candidate's resume
  • get_linkedin_url — Returns the candidate's LinkedIn profile URL
  • get_github_url — Returns the candidate's GitHub profile URL
  • get_website_url — Returns the candidate's personal website URL
  • get_website_text — Returns the content from the candidate's personal website
  • contact_candidate — Sends an email to the candidate (requires Mailgun configuration)
  • Resources — The Resources tool exposed by this server
  • Tools — This MCP server also provides tools that return the same candidate information:
  • Stdio — Starting the process is a breeze with stdio. The interesting part is providing the candidate configuration
  • StreamableHttp — Using the example code provided by the typescript sdk we can bind this mcp server to an express server
  • Express — Instead of writing the binding between express and the mcp transport yourself, you can use express-mcp-handler to do it for you

What it needs from you

Configuration is passed through the environment: MAILGUN_API_KEY. Treat anything key-shaped as a real credential — scope it to the minimum the server needs, and rotate it if it ever lands in a shared config.

  • Node.js 20+ - npm or yarn

Getting it running

The server ships on npm as @jhgaylor/candidate-mcp-server, so your MCP client can launch it on demand — there is no separate build step. Add the server block to your client's configuration, restart it, and the tools register themselves.

How it compares

This sits in the developer tooling group, where several servers overlap in what they claim to do but differ sharply once you actually set them up. Candidate Library's toolset — get_resume_text, get_resume_url, get_linkedin_url and 10 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by jhgaylor; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

We check each listing at SyncDev against the project's documentation before it goes live — if something here drifts out of date, it is a bug worth reporting.

Things to watch

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • With 13 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Candidate Library.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
get_resume_textReturns the candidate's resume content as text
get_resume_urlReturns the URL to the candidate's resume
get_linkedin_urlReturns the candidate's LinkedIn profile URL
get_github_urlReturns the candidate's GitHub profile URL
get_website_urlReturns the candidate's personal website URL
get_website_textReturns the content from the candidate's personal website
contact_candidateSends an email to the candidate (requires Mailgun configuration)
ResourcesThe Resources tool exposed by this server.
ToolsThis MCP server also provides tools that return the same candidate information:
StdioStarting the process is a breeze with stdio. The interesting part is providing the candidate configuration.
StreamableHttpUsing the example code provided by the typescript sdk we can bind this mcp server to an express server.
ExpressInstead of writing the binding between express and the mcp transport yourself, you can use express-mcp-handler to do it for you.
InitializeThe Initialize tool exposed by this server.

How to install the Candidate Library MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "node-candidate": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@jhgaylor/candidate-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "MAILGUN_API_KEY": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Configuration

  • Node.js 20+ - npm or yarn
VariableDescriptionRequired
MAILGUN_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes

Example prompts to try

  • Use Candidate Library to get resume text.
  • Use Candidate Library to get resume url.
  • Use Candidate Library to get linkedin url.

Frequently asked questions

It gives LLMs access to candidate information (resume, profile URLs, website content) through the Model Context Protocol, intended as a library to embed in other applications.