diff --git a/src/App.vue b/src/App.vue
index 8f3d8be..53ce34e 100644
--- a/src/App.vue
+++ b/src/App.vue
@@ -1,15 +1,19 @@
 <script setup>
 import SideNav from './components/SideNav.vue'
-import { ref, provide, onMounted, computed } from 'vue'
-import { useRoute } from 'vue-router'
+import { ref, provide, onMounted, computed, watch } from 'vue'
+import { useRoute, useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 
 // Current route
 const route = useRoute()
+const router = useRouter()
+
+// Authentication state
+const isLoggedIn = ref(false)
 
 // Theme state
 const isDarkMode = ref(false)
 
-// Initialize theme on mount
+// Initialize theme and check auth on mount
 onMounted(() => {
   // Check for saved preference in localStorage
   const savedTheme = localStorage.getItem('theme')
@@ -22,6 +26,24 @@ onMounted(() => {
   
   // Apply initial theme
   applyTheme(isDarkMode.value)
+  
+  // Check authentication state
+  checkAuthStatus()
+})
+
+// Check authentication status
+const checkAuthStatus = () => {
+  isLoggedIn.value = localStorage.getItem('isLoggedIn') === 'true'
+  
+  // Redirect to login if not logged in and not already on login page
+  if (!isLoggedIn.value && route.name !== 'login') {
+    router.push({ name: 'login' })
+  }
+}
+
+// Watch for route changes to check auth status
+watch(() => route.path, () => {
+  checkAuthStatus()
 })
 
 // Apply theme to document
@@ -41,6 +63,9 @@ const handleThemeToggle = (dark) => {
 provide('isDarkMode', isDarkMode)
 provide('toggleTheme', handleThemeToggle)
 
+// Provide authentication state
+provide('isLoggedIn', isLoggedIn)
+
 // Computed active section from route
 const activeSection = computed(() => route.name)
 
@@ -50,9 +75,14 @@ provide('activeSection', activeSection)
 
 <template>
   <div class="app-container">
-    <SideNav />
+    <!-- Only show SideNav when user is logged in -->
+    <SideNav v-if="isLoggedIn && route.name !== 'login'" />
     
-    <div class="content-wrapper">
+    <!-- Full-screen login page when not logged in or on login route -->
+    <router-view v-if="!isLoggedIn || route.name === 'login'"></router-view>
+    
+    <!-- Content wrapper only shown when logged in and not on login page -->
+    <div v-if="isLoggedIn && route.name !== 'login'" class="content-wrapper">
       <nav class="breadcrumb">
         <ul>
           <li v-if="activeSection === 'dashboard'" class="active">Home</li>
diff --git a/src/components/SideNav.vue b/src/components/SideNav.vue
index 90aa472..1e2b228 100644
--- a/src/components/SideNav.vue
+++ b/src/components/SideNav.vue
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 <script setup>
-import { ref, inject, computed } from 'vue';
+import { ref, inject, computed, onMounted, watch } from 'vue';
 import { useRoute, useRouter } from 'vue-router';
 
 // Navigation state
 const isCollapsed = ref(false);
+const isLoggedIn = ref(false);
 
 // Get theme state from parent
 const isDarkMode = inject('isDarkMode');
@@ -16,6 +17,20 @@ const router = useRouter();
 // Compute active section from current route
 const activeSection = computed(() => route.name);
 
+// Check authentication status on mount and when route changes
+onMounted(() => {
+  checkAuthStatus();
+});
+
+watch(() => route.path, () => {
+  checkAuthStatus();
+});
+
+// Function to check if user is logged in
+const checkAuthStatus = () => {
+  isLoggedIn.value = localStorage.getItem('isLoggedIn') === 'true';
+};
+
 const toggleNav = () => {
   isCollapsed.value = !isCollapsed.value;
 };
@@ -29,6 +44,16 @@ const toggleTheme = () => {
 const navigateTo = (routeName) => {
   router.push({ name: routeName });
 };
+
+// Logout function
+const handleLogout = () => {
+  // Clear authentication state
+  localStorage.removeItem('isLoggedIn');
+  isLoggedIn.value = false;
+  
+  // Redirect to login page
+  router.push({ name: 'login' });
+};
 </script>
 
 <template>
@@ -78,6 +103,14 @@ const navigateTo = (routeName) => {
           </router-link>
         </li>
       </ul>
+      
+      <!-- Logout button - only visible when logged in -->
+      <div v-if="isLoggedIn" class="logout-container">
+        <button class="logout-button" @click="handleLogout">
+          <span class="icon">🚪</span>
+          <span class="text" :class="{ 'hidden': isCollapsed }">Logout</span>
+        </button>
+      </div>
     </nav>
     <div class="click-switch" :class="{ 'collapsed-mode': isCollapsed }" @click="toggleTheme">
       <div :class="isDarkMode ? 'sun' : 'moon'">
@@ -312,6 +345,8 @@ const navigateTo = (routeName) => {
   .nav-menu {
     padding: 1rem 0;
     flex: 1;
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
     overflow-y: auto;
     transition: all 0.3s ease;
     
@@ -374,6 +409,49 @@ const navigateTo = (routeName) => {
   }
   }
   
+  .logout-container {
+    margin-top: auto;
+    padding: 0.5rem 1rem 1rem;
+    border-top: 1px solid var(--sidebar-border);
+    
+    .logout-button {
+      display: flex;
+      align-items: center;
+      width: 100%;
+      padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
+      background-color: transparent;
+      color: var(--text-color);
+      border: 1px solid var(--sidebar-border);
+      border-radius: 8px;
+      cursor: pointer;
+      transition: all 0.3s ease;
+      
+      &:hover {
+        background-color: rgba(220, 53, 69, 0.1);
+        color: #dc3545;
+        border-color: rgba(220, 53, 69, 0.3);
+      }
+      
+      .icon {
+        margin-right: 0.75rem;
+        font-size: 1.2rem;
+        width: 1.5rem;
+        text-align: center;
+      }
+      
+      .text {
+        transition: opacity 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease;
+        opacity: 1;
+        transform: translateX(0);
+        
+        &.hidden {
+          opacity: 0;
+          transform: translateX(10px);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  
   .nav-footer {
     padding: 1rem;
     border-top: 1px solid var(--sidebar-border);
diff --git a/src/router/index.js b/src/router/index.js
index 7adfd2e..e2898f3 100644
--- a/src/router/index.js
+++ b/src/router/index.js
@@ -7,11 +7,17 @@ import Applications from '../views/Applications.vue';
 import SavedJobs from '../views/SavedJobs.vue';
 import Profile from '../views/Profile.vue';
 import Settings from '../views/Settings.vue';
+import Login from '../views/Login.vue';
 
 const routes = [
   {
     path: '/',
-    redirect: '/dashboard'
+    redirect: '/login'
+  },
+  {
+    path: '/login',
+    name: 'login',
+    component: Login
   },
   {
     path: '/dashboard',
diff --git a/src/views/Login.vue b/src/views/Login.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85bbef0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/views/Login.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,227 @@
+<script setup>
+import { ref, computed } from 'vue';
+import { useRouter } from 'vue-router';
+
+// Form state
+const username = ref('');
+const password = ref('');
+
+// Router for navigation
+const router = useRouter();
+
+// Computed property to check if form is valid
+const isFormValid = computed(() => {
+  return username.value.trim() !== '' && password.value.trim() !== '';
+});
+
+// Login function
+const handleLogin = () => {
+  if (!isFormValid.value) return;
+  
+  // Store authentication state in localStorage
+  localStorage.setItem('isLoggedIn', 'true');
+  
+  // Navigate to dashboard
+  router.push({ name: 'dashboard' });
+};
+
+// Forgot password function
+const handleForgotPassword = () => {
+  // This would typically open a modal or navigate to a forgot password page
+  alert('Forgot password functionality will be implemented in a future update.');
+};
+</script>
+
+<template>
+  <div class="login-container">
+    <div class="login-modal">
+      <div class="login-header">
+        <h1><span class="logo-icon">👔</span> jJobs</h1>
+        <p>Sign in to your account</p>
+      </div>
+      
+      <form @submit.prevent="handleLogin" class="login-form">
+        <div class="form-group">
+          <label for="username">Username</label>
+          <input 
+            type="text" 
+            id="username" 
+            v-model="username" 
+            placeholder="Enter your username"
+            autocomplete="username"
+          />
+        </div>
+        
+        <div class="form-group">
+          <label for="password">Password</label>
+          <input 
+            type="password" 
+            id="password" 
+            v-model="password" 
+            placeholder="Enter your password"
+            autocomplete="current-password"
+          />
+        </div>
+        
+        <div class="form-actions">
+          <button 
+            type="submit" 
+            class="login-button" 
+            :disabled="!isFormValid"
+            :class="{ 'disabled': !isFormValid }"
+          >
+            Login
+          </button>
+          
+          <button 
+            type="button" 
+            class="forgot-password-button" 
+            @click="handleForgotPassword"
+          >
+            Forgot Password?
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      </form>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</template>
+
+<style lang="scss" scoped>
+.login-container {
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: center;
+  align-items: center;
+  min-height: 100vh;
+  width: 100%;
+  background-color: var(--bg-color);
+  position: fixed;
+  top: 0;
+  left: 0;
+  z-index: 100;
+}
+
+.login-modal {
+  width: 100%;
+  max-width: 420px;
+  background-color: var(--card-bg);
+  border-radius: 12px;
+  box-shadow: 0 8px 30px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12);
+  padding: 2.5rem;
+  transition: all 0.3s ease;
+}
+
+.login-header {
+  text-align: center;
+  margin-bottom: 2rem;
+  
+  h1 {
+    font-size: 2rem;
+    margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
+    color: var(--text-color);
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    
+    .logo-icon {
+      margin-right: 0.5rem;
+    }
+  }
+  
+  p {
+    color: var(--text-color-secondary);
+    font-size: 1rem;
+    margin: 0;
+  }
+}
+
+.login-form {
+  .form-group {
+    margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
+    
+    label {
+      display: block;
+      margin-bottom: 0.5rem;
+      font-size: 0.9rem;
+      color: var(--text-color);
+      font-weight: 500;
+    }
+    
+    input {
+      width: 100%;
+      padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
+      border: 1px solid var(--card-border);
+      border-radius: 8px;
+      background-color: var(--card-bg-secondary);
+      color: var(--text-color);
+      font-size: 1rem;
+      transition: all 0.3s ease;
+      
+      &:focus {
+        outline: none;
+        border-color: var(--primary-color);
+        box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(52, 152, 219, 0.2);
+      }
+      
+      &::placeholder {
+        color: var(--text-color-tertiary);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  
+  .form-actions {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    gap: 1rem;
+    margin-top: 2rem;
+    
+    .login-button {
+      width: 100%;
+      padding: 0.75rem;
+      background-color: var(--primary-color);
+      color: white;
+      border: none;
+      border-radius: 8px;
+      font-size: 1rem;
+      font-weight: 500;
+      cursor: pointer;
+      transition: all 0.3s ease;
+      
+      &:hover:not(.disabled) {
+        background-color: var(--primary-hover-color);
+      }
+      
+      &.disabled {
+        opacity: 0.6;
+        cursor: not-allowed;
+      }
+    }
+    
+    .forgot-password-button {
+      background: none;
+      border: none;
+      color: var(--primary-color);
+      font-size: 0.9rem;
+      cursor: pointer;
+      padding: 0.5rem;
+      text-align: center;
+      
+      &:hover {
+        text-decoration: underline;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+// Responsive adjustments
+@media (max-width: 480px) {
+  .login-modal {
+    max-width: 100%;
+    border-radius: 0;
+    padding: 2rem 1.5rem;
+    height: 100vh;
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    justify-content: center;
+  }
+}
+</style>