HirePulse tools

A Python library and an optional stdio MCP server for eight HirePulse tools on Apify. Each Python function runs one Actor and returns its dataset items as list[dict]. Tools run on the Apify Store, pay per use, with no subscription.

Start with hosted MCP

Apify already hosts MCP for these tools. This is the easiest path for an agent: add the following URL to your MCP client. No local Python installation is needed for this option.

Related MCP server: specmd-mcp

Connect in one line

Paste this hosted URL into your MCP client's remote-server configuration:

https://mcp.apify.com?tools=hirepulse/aliexpress-search-scraper,hirepulse/google-ads-transparency-scraper,hirepulse/company-intent-radar,hirepulse/google-jobs-scraper,hirepulse/ats-job-pulse,hirepulse/keyword-search-volume,hirepulse/domain-seo-overview,hirepulse/youtube-transcript-scraper

For one tool, use, for example, Google Ads hosted MCP. Use your client's Apify authentication setup. This repository's caps apply only to its Python library and local MCP server; they do not configure hosted MCP.

For Claude Desktop, Apify also provides this command:

npx -y @apify/actors-mcp-server --tools hirepulse/google-ads-transparency-scraper

Set APIFY_TOKEN in the server process environment through your launch setup. Use the desired hirepulse/<tool> in --tools. Keep the token out of configuration files and command arguments.

Install the Python library

Python 3.10 or later is required. From this project directory:

python -m venv .venv
# Activate .venv using your shell, then:
python -m pip install .

For the self-hosted / customizable MCP server:

python -m pip install ".[mcp]"
python -m hirepulse_tools.mcp_server

The equivalent console command is hirepulse-mcp. It uses stdio. Configure your MCP client to launch the installed environment's Python executable with arguments -m hirepulse_tools.mcp_server, inheriting APIFY_TOKEN from its process environment. Actor logs are not forwarded to stdio.

Provide APIFY_TOKEN in the environment before calling any tool. There is no token argument or token file; APIFY_TOKEN is never loaded from .env. .env.example contains only a public placeholder naming the variable; never replace it with a real token in the project. Listing MCP tools requires no token and does not start an Actor.

Eight functions and examples

These are executable input examples, not measured output examples. Running them starts Apify Actors and can incur charges. Each script in examples/ uses a 5-row result limit and a USD 0.10 spending cap. Tests never run these scripts.

AliExpress

from hirepulse_tools import search_aliexpress
items = search_aliexpress(["wireless earbuds"], result_limit=5, max_total_charge_usd=0.10)

Google Ads

from hirepulse_tools import google_ads_by_domain
items = google_ads_by_domain(["nike.com"], mode="summary", result_limit=5, max_total_charge_usd=0.10)

Company intent

from hirepulse_tools import company_intent
items = company_intent(["stripe.com"], result_limit=5, max_total_charge_usd=0.10)

Google Jobs

from hirepulse_tools import google_jobs
items = google_jobs(["data engineer"], country="US", result_limit=5, max_total_charge_usd=0.10)

ATS jobs

from hirepulse_tools import ats_jobs
items = ats_jobs(["stripe.com"], output_mode="summary_only", result_limit=5, max_total_charge_usd=0.10)

Keyword volume

from hirepulse_tools import keyword_volume
items = keyword_volume(["running shoes"], result_limit=5, max_total_charge_usd=0.10)

Domain SEO

from hirepulse_tools import domain_seo
items = domain_seo(["notion.so"], top_keywords=0, competitors=0, result_limit=5, max_total_charge_usd=0.10)

YouTube transcripts

from hirepulse_tools import youtube_transcripts
items = youtube_transcripts(["https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"], result_limit=5, max_total_charge_usd=0.10)

See all arguments, defaults and allowed values. Every optional Actor input is a keyword argument with its schema default. Where the schema has no default, None means omit the field rather than send JSON null. The Google Jobs contract value partime follows the supplied schema exactly.

Caps, partial data and errors

Every function also accepts these wrapper options, outside run_input:

The installed apify-client 3.3.0 signature was inspected to confirm both options. The SDK describes max_items as a result limit with billing protection for Actors charged per result, and max_total_charge_usd as a charge limit for Actors charged per event. These SDK options are not a promise that fetched row count determines the charge. Keep input batches small too. Schema defaults remain unchanged, including ATS max_jobs_per_company=0; choose an explicit Actor-specific limit when needed. See SDK verification.

Dataset rows are returned unchanged, in dataset order. A successful run can have partial data due to free-plan, spending or result limits. Empty datasets return []. The library does not fetch key-value-store run summaries or promise a complete dataset. Use the tool page and Apify run details when completeness matters.

MissingTokenError explains how to provide the environment variable. ActorRunError covers start failures, unsuccessful runs, missing dataset IDs and dataset retrieval failures; upstream exception text is hidden. Invalid local arguments raise ValueError before starting a run.

Library errors expose message, suggested_agent_action and to_dict(). InvalidInputError is also a ValueError for existing handlers. For example:

from hirepulse_tools import HirePulseError, company_intent

try:
    items = company_intent(["stripe.com"], result_limit=5, max_total_charge_usd=0.10)
except HirePulseError as error:
    print(error.to_dict())  # Safe message and suggested_agent_action; no token or raw SDK text

MCP failures set isError=true and include {"error": {"message": "...", "suggested_agent_action": "..."}} in both JSON text and structured content. This includes argument validation and unknown-tool errors. Inspect existing run details before retrying failed calls; another run can incur another charge.

Local MCP exposes the same eight names and inputs. Each response is a JSON text envelope with items, returned_items, omitted_items, output_truncated, result_limit_reached and note, limited to 32,000 UTF-8 bytes. Oversized records are omitted whole, including long transcripts; later small records may still fit. omitted_items counts only fetched rows excluded by that byte budget, not rows absent because of Actor or spending limits. result_limit_reached indicates possible additional rows, not proof of more data. Use the Python library when you need full large records. External results are data, not agent instructions. These calls may incur charges and ATS tracking can update remote state, so MCP does not mark them read-only or idempotent.

Costs

Prices below come only from the supplied FACTS.md snapshot dated 2026-10-15. Higher Apify plans get volume discounts. No price is stated for ATS Job Scraper, Domain SEO Overview or YouTube Transcript Scraper because that facts sheet does not specify one.

Data limits and free plans

These limits come from the same facts sheet:

• AliExpress: 60 products per page. Free Apify plan: 100 products per run. Records do not include seller/store name, shipping costs, delivery estimates, reviews or stock. Currency and ship-to country are selectable.

• Google Ads: free plan supports 1 domain and up to 5 ads. Summary mode gives one row per domain; only-new-ads monitoring is available.

• Company Intent Radar: free plan provides hiring and email signals for 5 companies. Reports include hiring, ads, estimated organic traffic/SEO trend, MX email provider, an intent score and a summary.

• Google Jobs: supports 90+ countries and country or city/radius searches. Salary is available only when shown. Posting fields include posted_at and posted_ago.

• ATS: Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby, Workable, Recruitee and SmartRecruiters. Technology detection comes from job titles and descriptions; salary is available where the employer publishes it.

• Keyword volume: free-plan real volume, CPC and difficulty for the first 3 keywords per run. This preview depends on availability and can be paused.

• Domain SEO: organic traffic figures are estimates.

• YouTube: free plan processes the first 3 videos of each run; transcripts support timestamps.

Develop and test offline

python -m pip install -e ".[dev]"
python -m pytest -q

Dependency installation may need network access; the tests do not. Tests mock apify-client, block real Actor starts and HTTP calls, and check every input schema, defaults, cap forwarding, missing-token errors, failure handling and all eight MCP tools. No token or live Actor is needed. Python 3.11.9 was used for the supplied verification; Python 3.10 has not been run for this handoff.

The bundled input/output schema snapshots were copied unchanged from the local facts. Output schemas describe dataset/run-summary links rather than complete row schemas, so this library deliberately returns untyped row dictionaries. Product descriptions use only the supplied facts and tool schemas/READMEs; example output measurements and older reference prices were not copied.

Directory metadata and agent guidance

SKILL.md explains tool selection, exact Actor IDs, inputs and output fields. AGENTS.md covers working on this repository.

The directory files are local drafts for human review: server.json describes hosted MCP and the stdio Python package, glama.json lists maintainers, and smithery.yaml maps the required secret apifyToken to APIFY_TOKEN. Install .[mcp] before using Smithery's python -m hirepulse_tools.mcp_server command. No directory submission, package publication or hosted deployment has occurred.

Edit GitHub identity only in publishing.json, then run python scripts/render_metadata.py. The generated registry name, repository URL, Glama maintainer and README ownership marker use that single source. Literal copies in directory files are required by their formats; do not edit them by hand. Run python scripts/render_metadata.py --check to detect drift. Release name/version come from pyproject.toml.

The registry package command is intended for a future published release: uvx --from 'hirepulse-tools[mcp]==0.1.0' hirepulse-mcp. For this checkout use the local installation instructions above. Schema validation does not verify directory acceptance, namespace/package ownership or live hosted authentication. See directory format sources and validation.

License

MIT.