Correctly Addressed

Special Cases

How to address an envelope for a job application

Address it to a named hiring manager if you can find one, with their title on the next line, then the company name, then the street address. If you cannot find a name, ATTN HUMAN RESOURCES works instead. Mail the resume and cover letter unfolded in a 9x12 envelope for the most professional presentation, though that size costs more to mail than a standard folded letter since it is priced as a Flat, not a Letter.

Checked July 30, 2026/6 min read

Claire Post

Written by Claire PostReviewed against USPS Publication 28

What is on this page7 sections
  1. 01Step by step
  2. 02Real examples
  3. 03Quick reference
  4. 04Special cases
  5. 05Key terms
  6. 06Check before you mail
  7. 07Questions people ask

Mailing a physical job application is rarer than it used to be, which is exactly why the envelope matters more than it might seem. When most competition arrives through an inbox or an applicant portal, a well-addressed envelope is one of the only physical signals a hiring manager gets before opening anything.

Two decisions do most of the work: who exactly the envelope is addressed to, and whether the resume travels flat or folded. Neither one is complicated, but both have a real, practical consequence, one for how the application gets routed once it lands, the other for what it actually costs to send.

Step by step

  1. Find a named hiring manager if you possibly can

    Check the job posting, the company website, or a professional network for the actual name of whoever is hiring. A named envelope reads as more deliberate than a generic one, and it is more likely to land directly on the right desk.

    ATTN JORDAN REYES HIRING MANAGERACME CORP123 MAIN ST STE 400NEW YORK NY 10001
    CorrectAddressed to a named hiring manager.

  2. Use ATTN HUMAN RESOURCES when you cannot find a name

    A generic but still routed address, better than leaving the envelope with no internal direction at all.

    ATTN HUMAN RESOURCESACME CORP123 MAIN ST STE 400NEW YORK NY 10001
    CorrectNo name found, routed to the department instead.

  3. Choose a 9x12 envelope to keep the resume flat

    A resume mailed flat, unfolded, in a 9x12 envelope looks the way you printed it and is easier for the recipient to scan or copy. This is the more professional-looking option of the two.

  4. Know that a 9x12 envelope is priced differently than a folded letter

    A 9x12 envelope exceeds standard letter-size dimensions, so USPS charges it as a Flat rather than a Letter, at a higher rate. A folded resume in a standard number 10 envelope costs less to mail but arrives creased.

  5. Put the return address in the top left corner either way

    The same as any other envelope. This is what gets your application back to you if it cannot be delivered, and some hiring managers glance at it before opening anything.

A few real examples

The steps above cover the rule. These show it applied to a spread of real situations, so you can match yours to the closest one.

ATTN HUMAN RESOURCESWIDGET COMPANY INC456 OAK AVECHICAGO IL 60601
CorrectA folded resume and cover letter in a standard letter envelope. Costs less, arrives creased.

Quick reference

Pin this next to your printer
ChoiceLooks likeCosts
9x12 envelope, unfoldedExactly as printed, easy to scanFlat rate, higher
Number 10, folded in thirdsStandard letter, creasedLetter rate, lower
Named hiring managerDeliberate, targetedSame either way
ATTN Human ResourcesGeneric but routedSame either way

Special cases

The rule above covers most people. Here is what changes for the rest.

Is it worth the extra postage for a 9x12 envelope, or does a folded resume look unprofessional?

A neatly folded resume in thirds, placed in a standard envelope, is still a completely acceptable and common choice, especially for a role where mailed applications are unusual to begin with, such as most modern hiring processes that expect email or an online portal. The 9x12 option is worth the extra cost mainly when you know the resume will be photocopied, scanned, or physically filed by the recipient, where a flat, uncreased original genuinely helps.

Should I include the job title or "RE:" line anywhere on the envelope?

A short RE: line naming the position can help a busy hiring department route your application correctly, especially at a company hiring for multiple roles at once. Place it directly under the recipient name line, before the company name, if you choose to include it.

What if the job posting only lists a department, not a person or even HR specifically?

Address it to that department by name exactly as the posting lists it, the same way you would address ATTN HUMAN RESOURCES. Matching the exact wording from the posting, rather than guessing at a more generic department name, gives the mail room the best chance of routing it correctly.

Key terms on this page

Flat
A USPS mail category for larger, rigid pieces like a 9x12 envelope, priced higher than a standard Letter.
Letter rate
The lower USPS postage rate for standard-size, flexible mail such as a folded resume in a number 10 envelope.
RE line
A short reference line naming the specific position or purpose of the mail, placed above the company name to help internal routing.

Check the address before you mail

Questions people ask

Do employers still accept mailed job applications?
Less often than in the past, since most hiring now happens through email or an online applicant tracking system, but mailed applications are still accepted and sometimes explicitly requested, particularly for smaller companies, government positions, or roles where a physical presentation matters.
How do I find a hiring manager name if the job posting does not list one?
Check the company website leadership or team page, search a professional network for the role, or call the company directly and ask who is handling hiring for the position. A few minutes of research is often enough to turn a generic ATTN HUMAN RESOURCES into a named envelope.
Does the envelope size affect how the application is judged?
Not directly, but presentation can leave an impression before the resume is even read. A flat, unfolded 9x12 arrival reads as slightly more deliberate than a folded one, though this matters far less than the actual content of the application.
Should I use a stamp or metered postage for a job application?
Either works and neither is judged as more or less professional. A stamp is simpler for an individual mailing a single application; metered or printed postage is more common if you are mailing several applications from a print shop or office.

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