diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4ee4f05..18b5d98 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -113,6 +113,14 @@ careercoach-plugin/
   down fill-in starters — `Resume/Experience.md` (your verified source of truth), `Agent/story-bank.md`,
   reviewer + Humanize rules, an improvements log — and never clobbers your edits. Fill in `Experience.md`
   first; everything the packet flow writes is anchored to it.
+- **Native Word (`.docx`) export.** Set **Settings → Career Coach → Document format = `docx`** and the CV +
+  cover letter are produced as real, editable **Word files** (saved as versioned, downloadable artifacts)
+  instead of HTML→PDF. **This path builds the document by running Python (`python-docx`), so it requires:**
+  the [cowork](https://github.com/protoLabsAI/cowork-plugin) plugin (its `docx` skill), the **`execute_code`**
+  plugin **enabled** — ⚠️ **`execute_code` lets the agent run arbitrary code; enabling it is a deliberate
+  trust decision** — the `artifact` plugin, and a protoAgent **v0.107.0+** host (which bundles the doc
+  libraries). If any is missing, the coach **falls back to HTML→PDF and tells you what's absent**. Leave
+  `render_format` on `html` if you'd rather not enable code execution.
 - **Sharper job search.** Add a [RapidAPI **JSearch**](https://rapidapi.com/letscrape-6bRBa3QguO5/api/jsearch) key
   under **Settings → Career Coach → Job-source API key** for Google-for-Jobs breadth. Without a key, search uses
   the keyless **Remotive** remote-jobs board — so it works out of the box.
@@ -131,8 +139,9 @@ careercoach-plugin/
 - **Native `.docx` too (`render_format: docx`).** Set it and the CV + cover letter are produced as
   real, editable **Word files** via [cowork](https://github.com/protoLabsAI/cowork-plugin)'s `docx`
   skill, then saved with `save_file_artifact` as **versioned, downloadable** artifacts (ADR 0092,
-  protoAgent v0.107.0+) — what most ATS forms actually want. Needs cowork + `execute_code` + a
-  v0.107.0 host; falls back to HTML→PDF otherwise. A soft pairing: no hard dependency.
+  protoAgent v0.107.0+) — what most ATS forms actually want. It runs `python-docx`, so it needs cowork +
+  the **`execute_code`** plugin enabled (which runs code — a trust decision) + a v0.107.0 host; falls back
+  to HTML→PDF (and says what's missing) otherwise. A soft pairing: no hard dependency, `html` stays default.
 - **A coach, not an autopilot.** `career-strategy` + `interview-coach` are human-in-the-loop by
   design; the `apply` workflow is the opt-in "do it for me" path.
 - **Gated vs. autonomous, on purpose.** The full application exists in two shapes: the `apply`
diff --git a/protoagent.plugin.yaml b/protoagent.plugin.yaml
index 1b9a644..1be93d4 100644
--- a/protoagent.plugin.yaml
+++ b/protoagent.plugin.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 id: careercoach
 name: Career Coach
-version: 0.4.0
+version: 0.4.1
 description: >-
   Your career coach and job-hunt copilot. Talk through strategy and positioning,
   run mock interviews with honest feedback, get a straight critique of your CV,
diff --git a/skills/job-application-assistant/SKILL.md b/skills/job-application-assistant/SKILL.md
index 67178ee..92877d0 100644
--- a/skills/job-application-assistant/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/job-application-assistant/SKILL.md
@@ -45,7 +45,10 @@ that step (progressive disclosure), don't inline them all up front:
   honesty test in `writing-style.md`).
 - Render per the operator's `render_format` (default `html` → the artifact plugin → PDF;
   `docx` → a real Word file via cowork's `docx` skill → `save_file_artifact`; `latex` → moderncv
-  `.tex`). See `cv-guide.md` for each path. Inspect the rendered result; iterate until it's clean.
+  `.tex`). See `cv-guide.md` for each path. **For `docx`, the cowork `docx` skill and the
+  `execute_code` plugin must be enabled (it runs `python-docx`); if either is off, tell the user
+  exactly what to enable and fall back to `html` — don't silently switch.** Inspect the rendered
+  result; iterate until it's clean.
 
 ### Step 3 — Write the cover letter (on request)
 - Read `cover-letter-guide.md` and `writing-style.md`.
diff --git a/skills/job-application-assistant/cv-guide.md b/skills/job-application-assistant/cv-guide.md
index a87e5b0..fdf6e6b 100644
--- a/skills/job-application-assistant/cv-guide.md
+++ b/skills/job-application-assistant/cv-guide.md
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ Follow `writing-style.md` for tone and the honesty test **before** writing any b
   following the content discipline in this guide + `writing-style.md`, save it to disk, then
   register it with **`save_file_artifact(path, title="<Name> — CV — <Role>")`** so it lands in the
   Artifact panel as a **versioned, downloadable** file with a text preview. Needs the cowork plugin
-  + `execute_code` + a protoAgent **v0.107.0+** host (which bundles the doc stack). If any is
-  missing, **fall back to `html` and tell the user** — never silently skip. Save a revised CV as a
+  + the **`execute_code`** plugin (which runs the `python-docx` code — enabling it is a code-execution
+  trust decision) + a protoAgent **v0.107.0+** host (which bundles the doc stack). If any is missing,
+  **name exactly what's absent and fall back to `html`** — never silently skip. Save a revised CV as a
   new version by passing the same `artifact_id`.
 - **`latex`** — produce a moderncv `.tex` (see the appendix). Use only if the user asks for it.
 
diff --git a/skills/role-packet/SKILL.md b/skills/role-packet/SKILL.md
index 810c9b1..d5a549e 100644
--- a/skills/role-packet/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/role-packet/SKILL.md
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ your proof from `Experience.md` / the story bank, with gaps and stretches flagge
 write the **`tailored-resume`**, drawing only on what the evidence map supports. Surface any stretch
 line for the user to keep, soften, or drop. Render per `render_format` if the user wants a file —
 `html` → PDF, or `docx` → a real Word file saved as a versioned download-artifact (see `cv-guide.md`);
-the `.docx` is what most ATS forms want.
+the `.docx` is what most ATS forms want. **`docx` needs the cowork `docx` skill + the `execute_code`
+plugin enabled (it runs code); if either is off, say so and fall back to `html`.**
 
 ### Phase 4 — Application skills / ATS entry  ·  *gate: confirm*
 Read `ats-skills-entry.md`. Produce the **`skills-entry`** list — the discrete skills an ATS form asks