Question 1

How do I get my resume seen in 2025?

Accepted Answer

The brutal truth? Online applications often fail. Automated filters reject 75%+ of resumes before a human ever sees them, often for formatting quirks, missing keywords, or arbitrary criteria. The alternative is to bypass the black hole entirely. Ballista lets you send a premium printed resume + cover letter directly to a hiring manager's desk via physical U.S. mail. Real paper beats bots. They can't auto-reject a letter sitting in front of them. For as little as $5, your resume lands on a real desk, no algorithm standing in the way.

Question 2

Is sending a physical resume still effective in 2025?

Accepted Answer

More effective than ever. Digital noise is at an all-time high. Recruiters are drowning in LinkedIn messages and online applications. A premium printed packet cuts through. It's tangible, memorable, and impossible to ignore. Physical mail has a 90%+ open rate. They can't ghost a letter on their desk. It signals that you're serious, thoughtful, and willing to go the extra mile. That's exactly what senior roles demand.

Question 3

How can I stand out to hiring managers when applying for jobs?

Accepted Answer

Everyone's doing the same thing: LinkedIn Easy Apply, Indeed one-click, mass-sending generic resumes into the void. To stand out, do what nobody else does. Send a real letter. Ballista lets you mail a beautifully printed resume + personalized cover letter directly to the hiring manager's office. It lands on their desk, not in their spam folder. Physical mail is the packet that gets opened. For senior roles, the extra effort speaks volumes.

Question 4

Why am I not getting responses to my job applications?

Accepted Answer

If you're qualified and hearing nothing, you're probably stuck in the black hole. Automated filters reject most resumes before a human sees them. Even if you pass, your application is one of hundreds in a digital queue. The fix? Bypass the system entirely. Ballista sends your resume via physical mail to the hiring manager's actual desk. Real paper beats bots. They can't ignore a premium packet sitting right in front of them.

Question 5

What's the best way to reach a hiring manager directly?

Accepted Answer

Cold emails get lost. LinkedIn messages get ignored. But physical mail? It arrives. It's opened. It sits on their desk until they deal with it. Ballista makes it simple: upload your resume, enter the hiring manager's name and office address, and we print + mail a professional packet via USPS. For as little as $5, your resume lands on a real desk, no gatekeepers, no algorithms, no ghosting.

Question 6

How do I get my resume seen by a human instead of getting filtered?

Accepted Answer

Automated screening is designed to filter, and most resumes get filtered out. The only guaranteed way to bypass it is to not use it at all. Ballista lets you mail your resume directly to the person making the hiring decision. We print your resume and cover letter on premium paper and send it via USPS First-Class mail. It's the packet that gets opened. They can't ghost a letter on their desk.

Question 7

Does mailing a resume make you look desperate?

Accepted Answer

The opposite. It makes you look serious, strategic, and willing to put in effort. In a world of one-click applications, taking the time to send physical mail signals genuine interest. Senior candidates especially benefit. Decision-makers respect the initiative. Ballista makes it professional: premium paper, clean design, real mail. It's not desperate; it's differentiated.

Question 8

How much does it cost to mail a resume to a company?

Accepted Answer

With Ballista, as little as $5. Our Starter pack (650 credits) covers one Standard packet. That's your resume + cover letter printed on premium paper and sent via USPS First-Class mail. If you want certified tracking and delivery confirmation, Premium packets are 2,000 credits ($20). No subscriptions. One-time purchase. Your resume lands on a real desk.

Question 9

Can I send my resume to multiple companies at once?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Upload your resume once, then create packets for as many companies as you want. Each packet gets its own cover letter, target address, and brand style. Our Campaign pack (7,700 credits for $50) is designed for 5+ mailings. Real paper beats bots, and volume helps you cover more ground.

Question 10

What should I include in a physical resume packet?

Accepted Answer

Keep it focused: resume + cover letter. That's what Ballista sends. Both are printed on 80lb premium paper, thick, professional, memorable. The cover letter is personalized to the company and hiring manager. No generic fluff. The packet lands as a cohesive, polished presentation. They can't ghost a letter on their desk.

Question 11

How do I find a hiring manager's mailing address?

Accepted Answer

Start with the company's website for office locations. LinkedIn often lists the hiring manager's name. For specific addresses, Google Maps or the company's "Contact" page usually has what you need. Ballista includes Google Places autocomplete to help you verify addresses. We validate every address before printing to avoid returns.

Question 12

Is physical mail better than email for job applications?

Accepted Answer

For standing out? Absolutely. Email open rates for cold outreach are 15-25%. Physical mail open rates are 90%+. A letter on someone's desk demands attention in a way an inbox never will. Paper beats bots. If your online applications are disappearing into the void, physical mail is the alternative that actually gets seen.

Question 13

How long does it take for a mailed resume to arrive?

Accepted Answer

Ballista's Standard packets arrive in 5-7 business days via USPS First-Class mail. Premium packets (with certified tracking) also arrive in 5-7 business days but include delivery confirmation and a signature option. You'll know exactly when your resume lands on their desk.

Question 14

What paper quality should I use for a printed resume?

Accepted Answer

Heavy stock, clean finish. Ballista prints on 80lb bond paper, thick enough to feel premium, professional enough to impress. The tactile difference matters. When a hiring manager picks up your packet, it feels intentional. It's the packet that gets opened and remembered.

Question 15

Can I track my mailed resume?

Accepted Answer

With Ballista's Premium tier, yes. You get USPS Certified Mail tracking with delivery confirmation. You'll receive an email when your packet is delivered. If it's lost in transit, we refund the credits. Standard packets include an IMB barcode for basic in-transit updates but no delivery confirmation.

Question 16

How do I write a cover letter for a physical resume?

Accepted Answer

Same principles as digital, but with more impact. Be specific about why this company, this role, this hiring manager. Ballista offers 5 auto-generated cover letter approaches, from direct and confident to warm and conversational. Or write your own. Either way, it's printed beautifully and mailed with your resume. The cover letter makes the packet personal.

Question 17

Should I send a resume to a company that hasn't posted a job?

Accepted Answer

If you're genuinely interested in working there, yes. It's called a "prospecting packet", expressing interest before a role opens. Many senior hires happen through relationships, not postings. A well-written letter to a hiring manager or department head can open doors. Ballista makes it easy to send speculative packets. They can't ghost a letter on their desk.

Question 18

What's the success rate of mailing resumes?

Accepted Answer

Higher than you'd expect. Physical mail has 90%+ open rates, compare that to 15-25% for cold emails. The response rate depends on your fit for the role and quality of your materials, but the visibility rate is near-guaranteed. Real paper beats bots. If they see your resume, you have a shot.

Question 19

Is this just for tech jobs?

Accepted Answer

No. Ballista works for any senior-level role where reaching a decision-maker matters: tech, product, design, marketing, sales, finance, executive positions. Any industry where hiring managers have physical offices. If they can receive mail, you can send them your resume.

Question 20

How is Ballista different from a regular mail service?

Accepted Answer

We're built specifically for job seekers. Upload your resume once, reuse it forever. Auto-generate personalized cover letters. Choose from professional brand styles. Preview the exact PDF that will print. We handle printing on premium paper and USPS mailing. All you do is fill out a 6-step wizard, under 4 minutes from signup to sent.

Question 21

Can I customize the design of my resume packet?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ballista's "Brand" system lets you choose visual styles for your cover letter, colors, fonts, layout. Pick from presets or auto-generate a custom brand. Your resume stays as you uploaded it; the cover letter gets the visual treatment. The result is a cohesive, professional packet.

Question 22

What if the address is wrong and my resume gets returned?

Accepted Answer

We validate every address before printing using postal verification. If an address can't be verified, we flag it before you send. If a packet is returned despite verification (rare), contact us and we'll work with you on a resolution. Premium packets include certified tracking so you know exactly what happened.

Question 23

Do hiring managers actually read physical mail?

Accepted Answer

They do when it's addressed to them personally and looks professional. Generic bulk mail gets tossed. A quality packet with their name on it? That gets opened. The physical format demands attention. It's not competing with 500 other emails in an inbox. They can't ghost a letter on their desk.

Question 24

How do I follow up after mailing a resume?

Accepted Answer

Wait for confirmed delivery (Premium tier gives you this). Then send a brief email or LinkedIn message: "I recently mailed you a resume for [role]. I'd love to connect." The physical mail primes them; the follow-up closes the loop. You're now memorable in two channels.

Question 25

Can I use Ballista for international job applications?

Accepted Answer

Currently, Ballista supports U.S. mailing addresses only. We print and ship via USPS within the United States. If you're applying to U.S. companies from abroad, you can use Ballista. We just need a valid U.S. destination address.

Frequently Asked Questions

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