diff --git a/JobFlow.API/Services/OrganizationRealtimeNotifier.cs b/JobFlow.API/Services/OrganizationRealtimeNotifier.cs
index 0a3b236..fb0481f 100644
--- a/JobFlow.API/Services/OrganizationRealtimeNotifier.cs
+++ b/JobFlow.API/Services/OrganizationRealtimeNotifier.cs
@@ -8,14 +8,17 @@ namespace JobFlow.API.Services;
 public class OrganizationRealtimeNotifier : IOrganizationRealtimeNotifier
 {
     private readonly IHubContext<NotifierHub> _notifierHub;
+    private readonly ILogger<OrganizationRealtimeNotifier> _logger;
 
-    public OrganizationRealtimeNotifier(IHubContext<NotifierHub> notifierHub)
+    public OrganizationRealtimeNotifier(IHubContext<NotifierHub> notifierHub, ILogger<OrganizationRealtimeNotifier> logger)
     {
         _notifierHub = notifierHub;
+        _logger = logger;
     }
 
     public async Task NotifyJobStatusChangedAsync(Guid organizationId, Guid jobId, string jobTitle, JobLifecycleStatus status)
     {
+        _logger.LogInformation("SignalR → JobStatusChanged | org:{OrgId} | job:{JobId}", organizationId, jobId);
         await _notifierHub.Clients.Group($"org:{organizationId}:dashboard")
             .SendAsync("JobStatusChanged", new
             {
@@ -28,6 +31,7 @@ await _notifierHub.Clients.Group($"org:{organizationId}:dashboard")
 
     public async Task NotifyAssignmentChangedAsync(Guid organizationId, Guid jobId, Guid assignmentId)
     {
+        _logger.LogInformation("SignalR → AssignmentChanged | org:{OrgId} | assignment:{AssignmentId}", organizationId, assignmentId);
         await _notifierHub.Clients.Group($"org:{organizationId}:dashboard")
             .SendAsync("AssignmentChanged", new
             {
diff --git a/JobFlow.Business/Services/AssignmentService.cs b/JobFlow.Business/Services/AssignmentService.cs
index 39b278f..03e1ca5 100644
--- a/JobFlow.Business/Services/AssignmentService.cs
+++ b/JobFlow.Business/Services/AssignmentService.cs
@@ -207,6 +207,12 @@ public async Task<Result<AssignmentDto>> UpdateAssignmentStatusAsync(
             await _realtimeNotifier.NotifyAssignmentChangedAsync(
                 organizationId, assignment.JobId, assignmentId);
 
+        // When assignment starts, promote the job to InProgress if not already active
+        if (dto.Status == AssignmentStatus.InProgress)
+        {
+            await TryStartJobAsync(organizationId, assignment.JobId);
+        }
+
         // When assignment is completed, check if all assignments for the job are done
         if (dto.Status == AssignmentStatus.Completed)
         {
@@ -374,6 +380,27 @@ private async Task<AssignmentDto> MapToDtoAsync(Guid organizationId, Assignment
         return MapToDto(assignment, labelMap);
     }
 
+    private async Task TryStartJobAsync(Guid organizationId, Guid jobId)
+    {
+        var job = await _jobs.Query()
+            .Include(j => j.OrganizationClient)
+            .FirstOrDefaultAsync(j => j.Id == jobId);
+
+        if (job == null) return;
+
+        var promotable = new[] { JobLifecycleStatus.Draft, JobLifecycleStatus.Approved, JobLifecycleStatus.Booked };
+        if (!promotable.Contains(job.LifecycleStatus)) return;
+
+        var result = await _jobService.UpdateJobStatusAsync(organizationId, jobId, JobLifecycleStatus.InProgress);
+        if (result.IsFailure)
+        {
+            _logger.LogWarning(
+                "Auto-start failed for job {JobId} after assignment began: {Error}",
+                jobId,
+                result.Error.Description);
+        }
+    }
+
     private async Task TryCompleteJobAsync(Guid organizationId, Guid jobId)
     {
         var allJobAssignments = await _assignments.Query()