Job Strategies: Gifts for job seekers

Escapism. How many times have you heard the advice to cut cable or Netflix services as a budgeting measure? Assuming your loved one has done just that, you might find that a basket of used or new DVDs or a bagful of secondhand novels are exactly what's needed to provide some escape from daily struggles. For a little more cash you can buy gift passes to the movie theater or even a season pass to a playhouse.

Pampering. Yup, we're on a theme here: Things that have been cut out of the budget that are sorely missed. How about salon haircuts, pedicures and massage treatments? With some careful shopping online, you might even score a two-for-one deal, netting you a free treatment in addition to the certificate you give as a gift.

Practical necessities. These aren't as much fun to open, but they can be much appreciated. An amazing variety of needed services will take pre-payment from a non-account-holder. Should you choose, you might be able to pay forward on someone's utility bills, for example. Gift cards to grocery stores or gas stations also fit this category, as do prepaid phone cards or Internet services.

Socializing. When budgets are tight, people tend to stay to themselves more. If the picture also includes unemployment, this tendency to cocoon can actually be harmful, as the limited social exposure also limits opportunity for networking. You can help by giving as a gift the invitation to a home-cooked meal that will include the company of other people you think your friend would enjoy meeting. Even if no heavy-duty networking takes place, the opportunity to re-engage socially will be appreciated.

Memberships and classes. Another antidote to the job seeker's tendency to withdraw might be the gift of a membership or class. Possible memberships include a social club, a gym or a professional organization, and the cost will vary from a few dollars to several hundred for an annual commitment. Likewise, classes will range from no cost to quite a lot of money, depending on who's hosting the class and whether academic credit is involved. To make the gift more fun, consider buying a spot for yourself as well and attending the event together.

Items for job search. The list of gifts specific to a job search can stretch for pages. Moving up the line from inexpensive to notably generous, you can buy books, resume paper, career counseling services and printers or computers. But for no cash expended, you can also give homemade certificates for help researching companies, baby-sitting services during interviews or proofreading for cover letters. Sometimes just having a partner to check in with during this process can be a bigger gift than anything you could put in a box and wrap.

Yearlong gifts of friendship. Your gifts to a job seeker don't need to be limited to the holidays, particularly when they involve emotional support. Anytime is a good time to bring over a casserole for dinner or offer to take a walk together.

That said, for reasons too numerous to count, the holidays are indisputably a difficult time for people in job search. Even if you won’t be giving gifts this year, you’ll find that a phone call or two to the job seekers in your life will make a world of difference. Just communicating your friendship and support can be even more of a gift than you might guess.

Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com or at 626 Armstrong Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102.