diff --git a/output/ForRelease/failed/.gitignore b/output/ForRelease/failed/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3d07e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/output/ForRelease/failed/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+*
+!.gitkeep
+!.gitignore
diff --git a/output/ForRelease/inbox/.gitignore b/output/ForRelease/inbox/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3d07e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/output/ForRelease/inbox/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+*
+!.gitkeep
+!.gitignore
diff --git a/output/ForRelease/outbox/.gitignore b/output/ForRelease/outbox/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3d07e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/output/ForRelease/outbox/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+*
+!.gitkeep
+!.gitignore
diff --git a/output/ForRelease/processed/.gitignore b/output/ForRelease/processed/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3d07e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/output/ForRelease/processed/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+*
+!.gitkeep
+!.gitignore
diff --git a/output/README.md b/output/README.md
index 089e401..f10b9a1 100644
--- a/output/README.md
+++ b/output/README.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ This directory contains the post-processing side of ResumeCustomizer. It is resp
 - `ForRelease/failed`: Markdown files that encountered an error during conversion (contains `.gitkeep` to preserve the directory).
 - `Docker/`: container definition, watcher script, and helper wrapper that run the conversion daemon.
 
+All `ForRelease` subdirectories include `.gitkeep`/`.gitignore` files so generated resumes stay local and out of version control.
 ## Running the Output Processor
 Use the wrapper so the container writes files with your UID/GID: