27 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Unemployed [That They’ll Appreciate]

Holiday Gift Ideas for the Unemployed

My wife is one of the best gift-givers. She always has a knack for customizing gifts based on each individual and their situation. This got me thinking, how does she do it and what would be some good gifts for our unemployed or underemployed friends this holiday season.

I think the key to great gift-giving is empathy and understanding. If you’ve never been in their situation, it’s hard to give a good gift. If you don’t know them well enough, it’s hard to give a good gift. This year, I asked some job seekers what they would appreciate to gain some insight. Two trends emerged.

If they were eagerly pursuing jobs full-steam ahead, items that helped them with their job search were appreciated.

For those who were struggling financially and mentally, who just weren’t ready to hit the job search head-on, they appreciated gifts that helped them deal with their stress.

Whether you’re looking for things to help someone financially, give them a way to detox from stress, or help them with their job search, I’ve got you covered.

Here are some of the things I and others have appreciated when unemployed.

Bag of Groceries

This is a great gift for those strapped for cash and even those who may have quite a bit saved up and are less financially stressed due to their joblessness because it allows them to spend their money on other things that they might otherwise not. You could even include a Turkey or Ham for the holidays.

There are plenty of places that deliver groceries or if you’re unsure of what they might like, send them a Trader Joe’s gift card and let them go on a shopping spree.

Household Goods

Similar to groceries, this is another practical gift that many will appreciate. This could include things like shampoo, toilet paper, tooth paste, laundry soap, trash bags, and all those other things that we still need to survive.

Spa Day

Sometimes practical isn’t what someone needs. When we’re stressed out about our future and don’t have any income, we often don’t get to relax and enjoy things. A gift card to a local spa or a simple manicure/pedicure can be a great pick-me-up for someone who is out of work.

You could take them with you and make an outing of it or buy a gift card for them to visit on their own. You know your friends better than I do, so do what you think they would enjoy.

Netflix Subscription

A streaming subscription can also provide some much-needed relief from job searching and holiday stress. Figure out what they would get the most from and buy them a year or a few months subscription. These types of things are often the first to go when unemployed people have to cut their budget, so it could be a nice gift.

Cell Phone Gift Card

Having a phone and internet are critical to job searching today. If someone is really hurting financially due to unemployment, this can be a gift that makes a huge difference. Find out what cell phone carrier they are on and buy them a gift card that pays for their service for a month or two.

Apple Fitness

There is quite a bit of research that says exercise can help improve depression, anxiety, and other struggles that occur when unemployed. A subscription to an app like Apple Fitness can give people a way to take their minds off of their situation and improve their health. These subscriptions are so affordable, that you could buy them an entire year at a fraction of the cost of a gym membership.

As an alternative, you could also buy them a gift card for a few fitness classes at the local Orange Theory or another gym. Sometimes it’s nice to get out of the house and workout around other people. If you don’t know what option is best, ask them.

Career and Job Search Books

If your friend likes to read and learn, they may appreciate a good book about how to improve their situation. Some of my favorite job search books include:

Act Your Wage by John Gates

I Hate Job Interviews by Sam Owens

Pivot by Jenny Blake

Suddenly Unemployed by Rebecca Krusee

Resume Writing Services

No sane person enjoys writing a resume. Not to mention that writing a resume is hard work that takes a lot of trial and error for most people. If your unemployed friend isn’t getting job interviews, gifting a resume could be a valuable gift. Here is a list of the best resume-writing services that I would recommend.

Interview Coaching

Similarly, if your friend is getting interviews, but no job offers, you could gift them a few sessions with an interview coach. I’ve networked with many interview coaches over the years, and if I were going to pick one for my friends to work with it would be Andrea Tropeano. She’s not only good, but affordable meaning you can give more sessions. I also have a list of coaches I’ve reviewed and worked with over the years if you need other options.

Professional Association Fees

If your friend is a member of a professional association, offer to pay their dues for the year so they can maintain their membership and resources. This can be a game-changer for some industries, especially if the individual has to maintain CPEs for a certification through that association. Just ask them if they belong to a professional association. If the answer is yes, this could be a good gift.

Interview Outfits

Another practical gift could be some nice clothes. Blazers, button-down shirts, or some dress shoes can help them feel more confident when they are interviewing. Who doesn’t like a fresh outfit anyhow? I put together some interview outfit suggestions in this article.

Steamer

What’s better than a fresh new outfit to interview in? A steamed fresh new outfit. There are some really cool portable steamers that make a great gift for someone who is trying to dress to impress. Here are a few affordable steamers.

Beard Grooming Kit

Keeping a beard trimmed and neat requires products and money. Consider giving a beard care kit this holiday season to someone who, well, has a beard. Someone recommended this Viking Revolution Kit to me if you’re looking for one.

AI Subscription

One of the best gifts you can give to someone job searching is an AI subscription that helps them tailor resumes and prep for interviews faster and more efficiently. My favorite for resumes is Huntr AI and my favorite for interview prep is Final Round AI.

Desk

If you know someone who is job searching from their coach or dining room table, consider giving them a desk setup for Christmas. I know I work better when I have a dedicated space that I can work in. This is the desk that someone gifted me and I loved it. It’s affordable too.

Journal

Journals are great for taking notes, reflecting on the week’s progress (or lack thereof), and all kinds of things. It could also be a good gift for someone who needs a way to decompress during a stressful time. I know I always appreciate a good journal. You can get some great journals on Amazon for less than $10.

Restaurant Gift Card

When money gets tight, people tend to not eat out as much. Or if they do, they don’t go to expensive places. Consider a $100 gift card to a nice restaurant in town. Trust me, it will provide them with some much-needed normalcy during a tough time.

ARC System

I love my ARC notebook system. It’s sleek and 100% customizable so I can make it exactly how I want it - including the size. It’s a great tool for job seekers to take on interviews with them. It has nice pockets to slip a resume into. You can include a calendar if you want. It’s also great for taking notes during an interview. I use mine every day as a planner. It’s made by Staples, but you can usually get an ARC System cheaper on Amazon.

Umbrella

I’m not talking about any run-of-the-mill umbrella, I’m talking about those nice ones. If it rains where you live, this could be a great gift. All of these little things can do wonders for self-esteem as someone walks into an interview. When they pull out their nice fancy umbrella, they’ll feel confident and stay dry. Here is the umbrella I have. And if it stops raining, I like to walk with it like Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain.

Thank You Cards

A lot of people don’t think of this as a gift, but let me tell you, thank you cards are so important for a job search. Everyone sends emails these days, but I prefer to stand out with a hand-written thank you. Go to VistaPrint and order a box of thank you cards with their name on it. This is such a nice gift because it’s something a lot of job seekers won’t spend money on when times are tough.

You can also include a pack of stamps for them. I used thank you cards after every networking interaction and interview during my job search and it really can make a difference.

Printer Ink

One of the most practical things you can buy a job seeker during the holidays is good old-fashioned printer ink. Make sure you find out what kind of printer they have so you get the right cartridge. This is especially useful for people who may be interviewing in-person and printing off copies of their resume to take with them.

Cell Phone Battery Case

My life was changed one year when I was given one of these battery cases as a gift. Few things are as stressful as a job seeker as having your phone die on you and no immediate place to plug it in to charge. You’re just sitting there wondering how many recruiters may have called you and went straight to voicemail. We all know it’s not easy to get them to answer when you call back.

Here is the battery case someone got me.

Movie Tickets

If you think your jobless friend needs a good night out, throw in some movie tickets with that restaurant gift card. Almost every local theater sells gift cards online. You can even have them emailed directly to your friends on Christmas.

Coffee

When you’re unemployed, you spend a lot of time at home and it’s really easy to get stir-crazy. And because it costs money to go out, many times they don’t. If there’s a local cafe where they can take their laptop and job search, consider giving them a gift card to cover their coffee for a month. That way they can get out of the house and job search while enjoying a nice beverage. It does wonders for the soul.

Your Knowledge

If you’ve recently been through a tough job search, you can share your experience and what worked for you. But make sure you offer first and they ask for it. One thing that most job seekers hate during a stressful job search is unsolicited advice. But if they are open to it, offer any insights or suggestions that worked for you. Just keep in mind that what worked for you may not also work for them. But you never know.

Audiobook Subscription

If you know someone who loves to listen to books as they do other tasks, consider an audiobook subscription. You can buy their membership. With a membership, they can then buy books for less than $1 and listen to them.

Gift Cards

Find out where your friends shop and get them a gift card. Some popular places are Amazon, Home Depot, Staples, Target, GAP, Nordstrom, Sephora, or even iTunes.

Holiday Gift Ideas for the Unemployed Recommended Reading

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Curated: How to Gift When Unemployed

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