Job Platform Messaging Feature Development

I’m building an online platform that serves both job seekers and employers and I now need the in-app messaging component brought to life. The goal is to let any registered user start and maintain secure, real-time conversations without leaving the site, supporting everything from the first “Are you available?” to scheduling an interview.

Here’s what I need from you:

• A clean, responsive chat interface that works smoothly on desktop and mobile
• Real-time delivery, read receipts, and email/push notifications so no one misses a message
• Basic file attachment support (CVs, portfolios, job specs, etc.)
• Conversation history stored efficiently and encrypted in transit and at rest
• An admin view that lets me monitor or deactivate conversations when necessary

The rest of the platform (profile pages, job posts, applications) is being handled separately, so your code should plug into an existing user database and authentication layer. I’m flexible on the stack as long as it scales; common choices like React + Node, Laravel + Vue, or Django Channels are all acceptable—use what you’re fastest and most confident with, and document it well enough for another developer to extend later.

Deliverables are:

1. Source code in a Git repo with clear commit history
2. A brief setup guide and environment file
3. A short Loom or similar walkthrough showing the feature in action

Everything should be deploy-ready on a standard cloud host (Heroku, AWS, or DigitalOcean). Once this piece is stable we can discuss expanding into video calls or integrating with the job posting workflow, but right now the core chat experience is the priority. If this sounds like a straightforward sprint for you, let’s lock in a timeline and get started.