9 Unique Graduation Gifts for College Graduates to Jumpstart a Career
Career Related Graduation Gifts for New College Graduates
Unique graduation gift # 1 - Professional attire
Every college graduate looking to jump start a career will need to have a wardrobe of business professional and business casual attire. A unique graduation gift could be a gift card for retailers specializing in business professional or business casual attire such as Men's Warehouse or Jos A. Banks for men or Kasper and Ann Taylor for women.
Unique graduation gift # 2 - Starbucks Gift card
New college grads looking to jump start a career may need to do some professional networking over coffee or tea at a nearby Starbucks Coffee shop. It would be nice for a new college graduate to be able to pick up the tab if they set up a networking meeting, plan an informational interview or go out with new colleagues.
Unique graduation gift # 3 - Leather portfolio
There is no time like graduation to upgrade professional accessories. If the college graduate you know has been making do with a faux leather portfolio or briefcase, a real leather portfolio or case is a unique graduation gift that a new college graduate would really appreciate.
Unique graduation gift # 4 - Passport fee
Last year was the first time I recommended the passport fee as a unique graduation gift for new college graduates. Not only did I suggest that parents and friends write a check for passport fees, I suggested that they include the passport application in a graduation gift card as well. Today's college graduates should understand that we live in a global world of work and embracing international travel should become a priority early in their career.
Unique graduation gift # 5 - Membership in a professional association
Keeping with making purchases on behalf of a college graduate, another unique graduation gift is membership fee for a professional association. Ask the college graduate about a career area of interest and pledge to pay the membership fee for the first year. Professional association fees can be expensive for a new college graduates, but the career value is well worth it.
Unique graduation gift # 6 - First student loan repayment
College graduates know only too well that college loans become due six months after college graduation. A unique graduation gift for a new college graduate would be to pick up the first payment or the first few payments for their student loans. In a tough economy, this buffer could really help the college graduate since it could take more time to launch a career after graduation.
Unique graduation gift # 7 - Smart phone
New college graduates might need to upgrade telephones with data plans to facilitate a job search or launch a career after graduation. If the college graduate already has a smart phone, consider upgrading with an iPad or a similar tablet.
Unique graduation gift # 8 - Target gift card
Many new college graduates have to relocate and set up their own apartments after graduation from college. Rather than buy the college graduate a bulky item, which might create a problem for travel, consider a gift card from a store where they could get everything from professional attire, to food to furniture. A Target gift card would be an ideal graduation gift.
Unique graduation gift # 9 - Transportation
New college graduates often aren't thinking about the basic necessities for those first few months after graduation. Whether they have already landed a job or still looking for a job, consider the gift of transportation as a unique graduation gift. A transportation related gift for a new college graduate could include public transportaion passes or tokens, gas card or navigation equipment.
Published by Marcia Robinson
Marcia has been writing about work, employment, careers, education, entrepreneurship and related political issues for thirteen years. She has a strong commitment to supporting the personal and professional... View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentGreat ideas, well done!
Helping new grads establish good credit is definitely a good thing at graduation.
I like the idea of a gift as "stepping stones". Thanks for the term.
Thanks for reading Laura.
good job
These are all cool ideas. Certainly beats throwing money at the grad, that they will spend and forget what they did with it. These gifts are stepping stones for their future. Quite original.
All are excellent gift ideas especially the payments on the student loan. They are the most difficult for a new grad to make and can establish and help their credit scores!