diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 3d8a195..bb118cf 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -17,8 +17,11 @@ uv run pre-commit install
   reported mean ± std over 3+ seeds.
 
 ## Good first issues
-See the `good first issue` label. If the tracker is empty, open an issue
-describing what you'd like to add and we'll scope it together.
+See the [`good first issue`](https://github.com/bamdadd/steerbench/labels/good%20first%20issue)
+label (most are also tagged [`help wanted`](https://github.com/bamdadd/steerbench/labels/help%20wanted)).
+Each one has a problem description, file:line pointers, and acceptance criteria
+including which test to add. If the tracker is empty, open an issue describing
+what you'd like to add and we'll scope it together.
 
 ## Reproducibility rules
 - Pin versions (the `uv.lock` is committed).
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0e3d019..b8cc468 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -159,6 +159,12 @@ sentiment, verbosity).
 non-determinism bug found while building steerbench, and the one-line fix
 ([vgel/repeng#79](https://github.com/vgel/repeng/pull/79)).
 
+## Contributing
+
+Contributions welcome — start with the [good first issues](https://github.com/bamdadd/steerbench/labels/good%20first%20issue)
+(each has file:line pointers and acceptance criteria). See
+[CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for setup and the checks a PR must pass.
+
 ## License
 
 MIT.