diff --git a/plugins/recruit-resources/src/components/CreateCandidate.svelte b/plugins/recruit-resources/src/components/CreateCandidate.svelte
index 8c2310ba45..b22d6a988b 100644
--- a/plugins/recruit-resources/src/components/CreateCandidate.svelte
+++ b/plugins/recruit-resources/src/components/CreateCandidate.svelte
@@ -79,4 +79,4 @@
 
 </script>
 
-<DialogHeader {space} {object} {newValue} {resume} create={true} on:save={createCandidate}/>
+<DialogHeader {space} {object} {newValue} {resume} create={true} on:save={createCandidate} focus/>
diff --git a/plugins/recruit-resources/src/components/DialogHeader.svelte b/plugins/recruit-resources/src/components/DialogHeader.svelte
index 50af77b852..c92a4040ce 100644
--- a/plugins/recruit-resources/src/components/DialogHeader.svelte
+++ b/plugins/recruit-resources/src/components/DialogHeader.svelte
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
   export let space: Ref<Space>
   export let object: Candidate
   export let newValue: Candidate
+  export let focus = false
 
   export let resume: {
     id: Ref<Doc> | undefined
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@
     <div class="avatar" on:click|stopPropagation={() => showModal(AvatarEditor, { label: 'Profile photo' })}><User /></div>
     <div class="flex-col">
       <div class="name">
-        <EditBox placeholder="John" bind:value={newValue.firstName} on:input={isChanged}/>
+        <EditBox placeholder="John" bind:value={newValue.firstName} on:input={isChanged} {focus}/>
         <EditBox placeholder="Appleseed" bind:value={newValue.lastName} on:input={isChanged}/>
       </div>
       <div class="title"><EditBox placeholder="Location" bind:value={newValue.city} on:input={isChanged}/></div>