It's the holiday season, when religious institutions and community groups ask for donations of gifts for low-income and immigrant families. As much as families appreciate these gifts, most of what we offer is just stuff.

What would make a real difference? Employment. Especially for immigrants and others with language or cultural barriers, a job search in America is daunting.

If you're wondering what you could do, remember that it doesn't take a job-search expert to help someone with a job search. Here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Find out what the job-seeker can do. Learn about this person's background. What kind of work has he or she done before? Are there physical limitations to consider? What are the available hours for work, and what are the commuting options?

2. Help your job-seeker translate past work into current market needs. If people come from other countries, their work histories can be difficult to transfer to U.S. opportunities. If they lived in rural areas, they may have grown produce or sold goods along the roadside. Or perhaps they had highly skilled positions in medical professions but lack the licensing to do the same work here. Which skills might fit an employer's needs now?

3. Build steppingstones with the job-seeker. This person likely will need to start in a lower-level position or in a different industry before building the career he or she really wants. Many people don't clearly understand steppingstones or career-planning processes. They apply for work for which they're not yet qualified, then lose precious hope and momentum when those jobs don't come through.

4. Take care of the basics. Can the person speak and understand English? Does he or she have a basic understanding of computers? Make it clear that your help depends on this person's attending the free classes in your community, then provide whatever assistance or prodding you can.

5. Connect the job-seeker with community resources. If you have an Internet connection, you can find local agencies to help your new friend with a job search, on-the-job training opportunities, housing, transportation, etc. Most communities hold more resources than might be obvious.

6. Make a simple résumé for the job-seeker. You also can help with applications, but a well-worded résumé will be a more versatile tool. Some things to consider:

• include a simple nickname if the first name is difficult to pronounce;

• highlight attitude, punctuality and other positive work attributes;

• include information the employer needs to know, such as the job-seeker's level of English ability, work status and citizenship status; and

• emphasize U.S.-based work and volunteer experiences, when possible.

7. Whenever possible, put in a good word for the job-seeker. Use your judgment, of course, but remember that referrals are the best way of connecting someone to a job. If it works out, this is the kind of favor that will make a huge difference.

- Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecaree rservice.com or at 1071 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, MN 55102.