diff --git a/src/lambda/get-career/index.py b/src/lambda/get-career/index.py
index 3f8295c39..ce7f175a2 100644
--- a/src/lambda/get-career/index.py
+++ b/src/lambda/get-career/index.py
@@ -23,6 +23,13 @@ def get_career(job_type):
         company_logo = generate_url(bucket, company_logo_key)
         item['hero_image'] = hero_image
         item['company_logo'] = company_logo
+        
+        if 'applicants' in item:
+            count = len(item['applicants'])
+            item['applicant_count'] = count
+            
+        else: 
+            item['applicant_count'] = 0
 
     body = JsonPayloadBuilder().add_status(
         True).add_data(response).add_message("").compile()
diff --git a/src/lambda/post-application/index.py b/src/lambda/post-application/index.py
index 52a0d5ee1..aef0bd89f 100644
--- a/src/lambda/post-application/index.py
+++ b/src/lambda/post-application/index.py
@@ -50,9 +50,9 @@ def post_application(application, uid):
                     "created_at": {"S": application["created_at"]},
                 },
                 'UpdateExpression': 'ADD applicants :uid',
-                'ConditionExpression': 'attribute_not_exists(applicants) OR NOT contains(applicants, :uid)',
+                'ConditionExpression': 'NOT contains(applicants, :uid)',
                 'ExpressionAttributeValues': {
-                    ':uid': {"S": uid}
+                    ':uid': {"SS": uid}
                 }
             }
         }