Top Ten Holiday Gifts for the Job Seeker

Have you noticed that everyone is compiling a list of gift suggestions? Here’s my list for the job seeker/career changer in your life:

1. A briefcase, portfolio, or planner that suits the individual’s style and taste,
2. A serious, expensive-looking watch,
3. A hair appointment with the best consultant in town: suitable for a man or a woman,
4. A promise of an hour or two of good listening and debriefing after an upcoming interview accompanied by a pot of tea or whatever,
5. An invitation for a long walk and conversation to share life goals and strategies to achieve them,
6. An hour’s consultation with a career professional for a resume critique or a mock interview,
7. A copy of the latest edition of Richard Bolles’ What Color is your Parachute?
8. A hot-off-the-press copy of Maureen Anderson’s The Career Clinic: 8 Simple Rules for Finding Work You Love,
9. A lunch invitation with you and your friend (who happens to be in the field the job hunter is pursuing),
10. An upscale-looking pen. You have no idea how it looks to be interviewing a qualified, educated, experienced person who produces a tacky plastic pen, particularly one with an inappropriate logo.

A few thoughts about my list:

Yes, some of the items require a serious expense, but not as much as you might think. I don’t mean that the pen has to be a top-of-the-line, but it should be plain, tailored, and classic in appearance. Same goes for the watch.

As for items with no price tag attached except your time and caring, remember that job hunters need support from their friends and family. What is support? It’s knowing when to speak up (not often) and when to listen (when hearing about an upcoming interview or debriefing when it is over).

The best career books have humor sprinkled throughout, so please peruse carefully before selecting a book as a gift. Bolles (of Parachute fame) and Anderson (The Career Clinic) are both writers who know how to turn a phrase, inspiring, engaging and entertaining the reader at the same time.

It’s hard to be a friend at a time like this. Your neighbor, co-worker, or relative may be emotional, short-fused, or needy right now: the most important thing you may do is remind the job hunter that something interesting will have happened by this time next year, and that you will be there throughout the search process.

If you have further suggestions for a meaningful holiday gift for someone searching for a job, please feel free to leave a comment.

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Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Gift Giving Guide – a call for help
• The 2009 Holiday Gift Guide for the Unemployed
• A message from The Career Clinic’s Maureen Anderson
• How To Be Your Best At A Job Interview