• If you know someone who is just entering the workforce, making a career change or trying to move up the corporate ladder, acknowledge your encouragement and support of the job search process with a small gift. Gifts need not be expensive or time-consuming; appropriate presents vary as widely as the types of jobs people seek.
  
  

Massage

• Show your job seeker you support him in the difficult task of finding a new position with the gift of a massage. According to the Mayo Clinic, massage has shown to be a positive stress reliever for many people, allowing them to dedicate time to themselves, providing a little bit of pampering and possibly rejuvenating the spirit to go back out and pound that pavement. There are massage styles for every job seeker, ranging from deep tissue to light touch to specialty elder massage. You'll find individually run massage clinics in many mini-malls across the country; large chains such as Massage Envy offer a searchable database for the 42 states in which they have locations. Purchase a single massage or a package to offer a little bit of anxiety relief.
  
  

Flash Drive

• As your job seeker prepares to wow at her next interview, she may be scrambling to compile resumes, portfolio piece examples, photographs and letters of recommendation, all of which may get crumpled and torn in the rush. Help her prepare electronically for the next interview with the gift of a flash drive. Flash drives are small devices with varying amounts of memory. They are used to store files, including anything from word processing documents to desktop publishing pieces to photographs to digital video. Even a small flash drive, at 64 MB, holds as much information as 44 floppy disks. Flash drives come in various styles and colors; some even attach to key rings for immediate access. With a flash drive, also known as a USB drive, your job seeker can store everything in one place and have it immediately ready to show off in an interview--all she needs to do is plug it into a computer port.
  
  

Organization Sponsorship

• Almost every profession is governed by one or more organizational industry associations, which offer many resources for job seekers. The Society for Technical Communication, for example, offers a career center, online educational seminars, an annual convention and statewide chapters where members have their own job boards and local meetings. Consider a gift of sponsorship in one of these organizations for your job seeker, which may pay off in many ways. It will give the job seeker a sense of belonging and a new place to explore job possibilities. Also, membership in an industry group looks good on a resume. Out-of-work job seekers may find their availability opens them up to taking on volunteer work for the group, which can lead to valuable work experience and a sense of pride. Most groups charge an annual fee, which may be reduced for unemployed people, students and retirees. Recharge your job seeker's options by seeking out a national industry group in his field and paying for a year's membership.