A. Be aware that some of these graduates may already have jobs lined up and others may be looking for work. Those who are employed will need advice and guidance to enter the job market, even though they may not think so. You may want to give them books related to professional or personal development, gift cards to a clothing store so they can build their work outfit, gift cards to a coffee shop so they can take new colleagues to networking, etc. The unspoken rules: the secrets to getting your career off to a good start, Gorick Ng is a great book for those who haven’t spent much time in a professional setting, first-generation college graduates, and a great gift for adults who are unsure of new grads’ knowledge of basic behavior at work.
For those graduating without a job lined up, books related to job searching, career exploration, leadership, or books related to their degree are a good choice. Of course, cash or a check is the simplest gift to give, but practical and thoughtful gifts will also be appreciated. Dr. Paul Powers offers two books, Don’t wear flip flops to your interview And Winning job interviews who offer solid, actionable techniques mixed with humor to lead the job seeker to success.
Support for career exploration may not be needed immediately, as those who do not have a job lined up may want to take a break before embarking on the job search . You may want to invest some money or a check in these career exploration books. Money will be welcomed immediately. Career exploration advice will be more welcome in a month when new grads recognize they don’t know how to find a job. These books can also be great reading material for parents of recent graduates who may have found their jobs through newspaper wanted ads or the early days of Monster to show them how much job searching has changed dramatically since their last job search. Rather than giving your new graduates job offers, introduce them to people working in industries or career fields that interest them and help them set up networking meetings that could prove very helpful in their careers. job search.
According to my colleague and partner at Essex Partners, Tad Mayer, co-author of the book, Finding a Job That Loves You Back: The Three Conversations That Will Take You From Wherever You Are to Where You Find Out You Want to Go(with Carly Inkpen and Justin Wright):
“Recent college graduates are often overwhelmed by the number of career options. This, coupled with the feeling that saying yes to one path means saying no to so many others, can make a decision feel like a trap. Any tools that can help guide a new graduate through the process of determining which direction to take and how to move forward in a process can make a huge difference.
Readers of these books and the parents or families who support them should also recognize that this will not be the last job these new graduates accept. The best way for them to help is to support the concept of career exploration. Understand that most of these people will not stay in these jobs for more than three years and many will leave in much less time. This is also the new normal. In addition to salary, your new grads may be negotiating the number of days they need to commute to the office, take PTO, sabbaticals, stock options, etc.
Look for books that offer information on leadership, work-life balance, personal development, career advancement, or skills relevant to their industry or profession. The titles below make great graduation gifts: so spend some time in the career section of your favorite bookstore to see what your college graduate would enjoy. Or use the list below (or the titles mentioned above) and be sure to include the receipt just in case – right next to the cash.
Making waves: one woman’s rise to the top thanks to her intelligence, heart and courage, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance PaperbackAngela Duckworth
The algebra of happiness: notes on the search for success, love and meaning, Scott Galloway
Range: Why generalists triumph in a specialized world, David Epstein
The Elevator Moment: How Women’s Empowerment Changes the World, Melinda Gates
The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You’re Supposed to DoJeff Goins
The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies to Get Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, Michael D. Watkins
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