Ballista

About Ballista

Ballista is a revolutionary job search platform designed to break the cycle of frustration in modern online applications. It serves job seekers who are tired of being invisible, transforming the passive act of clicking "submit" into a proactive, physical strategy that demands attention. The core value proposition is simple yet powerful: bypass the digital black hole entirely. Ballista finds the exact hiring manager for a target role, prints your resume on premium, thick paper, and mails it directly to their office desk. This process leverages the undeniable impact of tangible mail—which has a 90% open rate—to ensure your application is seen, opened, and remembered. It’s a continuous improvement on the outdated application process, offering a smarter, more human-centric approach. Each mailed packet is an iteration toward success, moving you from being a filtered-out PDF to a standout candidate whose initiative is physically present in the workplace. For as little as $5 per application, Ballista turns the tables, ensuring you compete on a level where real paper and real effort consistently beat automated bots and overloaded HR inboxes.

Features of Ballista

Smart Hiring Manager Discovery

Ballista's intelligent research engine eliminates the guesswork. You simply paste a job listing link, and the system analyzes it to suggest the top three most likely decision-makers. Each suggestion comes with a confidence score, detailed reasoning, and a verified physical office address. This feature continuously refines its targeting algorithms, ensuring you reach the right desk every time, turning a random search into a precise strategic operation.

Premium Physical Packet Delivery

Your resume is professionally printed on 90lb pro-grade bond paper, ensuring a substantial, high-quality feel. It is mailed flat in an envelope (never folded) via USPS First-Class Mail, typically arriving at the hiring manager's desk within 5-7 business days. This tangible presentation is designed to stand out in a digital world, creating a memorable physical touchpoint that embodies quality and serious intent, improving your perceived value with each delivery.

Flexible Credit-Based System

Ballista operates on a transparent credit system that allows for tailored campaigns. Credits never expire, giving you complete control over your job search tempo. You can purchase packs for single applications or bulk campaigns, with options to upgrade to Premium Packets with certified tracking. This system supports iterative testing and refinement of your approach across multiple companies and roles without pressure or waste.

Enhanced Packet Customization

Beyond the resume, you can add strategic layers to your application. For a small credit cost, you can include a smartly personalized cover letter, apply custom brand design for visual cohesion, or use tools to scrape contact details. These add-ons allow for continuous optimization of your packet, enabling you to test what resonates best and refine your personal pitch for maximum impact with each mailing.

Use Cases of Ballista

Breaking Into Competitive Industries

When applying for roles in hyper-competitive fields like tech or finance, where online portals receive thousands of applications, a Ballista packet ensures you circumvent the initial AI screening. The physical resume on a hiring manager's desk demonstrates unparalleled initiative and grit, setting you apart from the faceless crowd and forcing a human review, which is the critical first step in a continuous improvement journey toward an offer.

Re-Engaging with Ghosted Applications

If you've applied online to a dream company and heard nothing back, Ballista provides a powerful second-chance mechanism. By identifying and mailing your resume directly to the department head or a senior hiring manager, you re-enter the conversation in a novel and impactful way. This proactive follow-up can resurrect a stalled process, demonstrating persistence and creative problem-solving that online systems cannot capture.

Senior-Level and Executive Job Search

For leadership roles where cultural fit and executive presence are paramount, a digital application is insufficient. Ballista facilitates a direct, respectful, and tangible introduction that matches the stature of the position. Sending a premium, tracked packet signals professional maturity and a strategic mindset, ensuring your first impression is one of substance and confidence, worthy of a continuous leadership dialogue.

Career Pivoting and Explaining Unique Paths

When your resume doesn't fit a traditional mold or you're changing industries, automated filters often reject you outright. A Ballista packet allows you to bypass these gatekeepers entirely. The cover letter add-on lets you narrate your story directly to a human decision-maker, framing your unique experience as an asset. This human-to-human connection is essential for iterative feedback and breaking into new fields.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ballista find the right hiring manager?

Ballista uses intelligent algorithms and data scraping tools to analyze company structures and job listings. When you paste a job link, it cross-references public data, professional networks, and organizational charts to identify the most probable decision-makers for that specific role, such as department heads or senior team leads. It provides you with multiple options and confidence scores so you can make an informed choice, refining its suggestions with every search.

What is included in a "Standard Packet"?

A Standard Packet includes the printing of your one-page resume on high-quality 90lb bond paper and its delivery via USPS First-Class Mail in a flat envelope. This service uses 668 credits from your balance. It does not include tracking or delivery confirmation. You can enhance this packet by adding a cover letter or custom design for additional credits, allowing for iterative improvements to your approach.

How long does delivery take and can I track it?

Standard Packets are sent via USPS First-Class Mail and typically arrive at the destination office within 5-7 business days. For tracking and proof of delivery, you must select a Premium Packet, which uses 1728 credits and is sent via Certified Mail. This upgrade provides a mailing receipt and electronic verification when the item is delivered or a delivery attempt is made.

What happens if my packet cannot be delivered?

If a packet is undeliverable due to an incorrect address, it will be returned to Ballista. In such cases, our support team will notify you. We will then refund the credits used for that packet back to your account so you can use them for a new, corrected mailing. This policy ensures your investment is protected and supports a process of continuous refinement in your targeting strategy.

Pricing of Ballista

Ballista uses a flexible credit system. Credits never expire and can be used for various services.

• Single Packet: $10 for 1,000 credits. Enough for one Standard Packet (668 credits).
• Triple Pack (Most Popular): $30 for 3,150 credits (+5% bonus). Enough for three Standard Packets or one Premium Packet with tracking.
• Campaign (Best Value): $100 for 11,000 credits (+10% bonus). Ideal for mailing 10+ applications or mixing Standard and Premium Packets.
  Service Costs in Credits: Standard Packet = 668 credits. Premium Packet (with tracking) = 1728 credits. Cover Letter = 9 credits. Brand Design = 35 credits.