Do you remember the time when you graduate from school? Everything is a bliss. No more demanding academic responsibilities and difficult professors. The possibility of a great future in the real world excites you. The people around you are also delighted for what is in store for you. They send their congratulatory messages. Some bear presents for you which makes the moment all the more memorable.
Years passed and you are on the other side of the spectrum. You are now the one sending your congratulations. Sometimes you are compelled to give gifts to some of them – a sibling, cousin, niece, or a neighbor. You are in a mall presented with the endless possibility of gift ideas for your lucky recipient. But you went home still clueless, stressed, and empty-handed.
Fret no more! I listed down all the possible presents you can give. The good news is you don’t need to spend an entire fortune to buy a good one. There are even intangible items but are in no way less valuable than the material ones.
1. Money
When it comes to presents, money is the first thing that comes to mind. It is easy, convenient, and hassle-free. But you are embarrassed because money seems ‘lazy’. Don’t worry because it is what a fresh graduate needs. They will be applying for jobs in the next few months and they will need money for transportation, printing, food, clothes among others. Don’t be afraid to give the cold hard cash.
If you are not comfortable with the idea of giving money, you may go for something similar – gift cards/certificates. They make great, fool-proof gifts because the recipient is free to choose what items to buy.
You may opt for cards and certificates offered by big malls and department stores like SM, Robinsons, Ayala Malls and Rustan’s for varied choices – from shoes to bags to clothes that they need for their job application and work. For other fashion options, H&M, Forever 21, and Zalora gift certificates are safe bets. If the receiver is a fan of books and stationery products, you can never go wrong with a National Bookstore or Fully Booked gift certificate. For the coffee lover, a Starbucks card is surely a hit. An Apple Store Card for Apple users will also be appreciated.
2. A Good Book
Ignorance is never bliss and there is power in knowledge. A book is a great way to impart some lessons to your graduate. There is a wide array of helpful books on different subjects – career, business, personal development, self-help, among others. Dr. Seuss’s Oh, The Places You’ll Go! is a popular gift. You may also go for the ones written by career and leadership experts Francis Kong and Jonathan Yabut. In keeping the entrepreneurial spirit alive, books published by GoNegosyo are good choices. Books by Francisco Colayco and Bo Sanchez are amazing starts if you want to teach your receiver to take care of their finances.
For more title ideas, check The 50 Best Self-Help Books of All-Time
3. Beep Card
A Beep Card is a stored-value card used to tap in and out of LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 lines. It saves the hassle of long line queue since it is reloadable. If the recipient will be traveling to and fro Metro Manila, a Beep Card is an immense help. Sounds tacky but practical and valuable in reality. A Beep Card can also be used in other places which include:
- Buses – HM Transport Airport Loop, BGC Bus, Citylink Coach Services, RRGC, and P2P bus lines
- Cavitex and NLEX
- FamilyMart and Circle K
- Wendy’s
- Robinson’s Movie World
All you have to do is go to any LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 stations and approach the teller booth or purchase via the self-service Ticket Vending Machines. One-time fee for the card is only PHP 20 and you can load as much as PHP10,000.
You may also buy the card in select stores for PHP50.
- HM Transport’s Baclaran
- NAIA T3 booth
- BGC Bus EDSA
- Market! Market!
- Bonifacio One Technology Tower terminals.
- CityLink McKinley
- San Lorenzo Place
- Eastwood and Newport stops
- Froehlich Glorietta 5
- Trinoma
- RRCG Alabang Town Center
- Greenbelt 1
- Greenbelt 5
- Star Mall Alabang
- Star Mall Shaw
4. A Heartwarming Letter
If the recipient is dear to your heart, you can go for the old-fashioned handwritten letter. It can be an avenue to impart your wisdom, share funny and relevant experiences. Go! These are the things a clueless job seeker needs.
5. Recommendation
You don’t always have to give material gifts. Sometimes all they need is a job lead or a contact. You may volunteer to refer them to relevant people by forwarding their resume with a recommendation from you.
6. Mentorship
Time is one of the most valuable presents you can give to someone. You can help them by giving pointers on the do’s and don’ts of job hunting and conducting mock interviews. If you are in the same industry, you may share some pieces of advice and give them an idea on how is it like being in your field.
7. Class/Seminar/Coaching Session
If teaching is not your thing, you may enroll them in essential classes that will develop and improve the skills they need in the corporate world. Career coaching sessions will help a job seeker realize their career paths, practice their interview skills, and further polish their resumes and cover letters. Personality development training is also a good class to enroll them. These programs help boost their confidence and make them be more professional in the real world. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA also provides a series of short courses – from animation to language courses to web development and design.
In-class programs are not your only options. Online courses are the rage nowadays. You may pay for an online class in Lynda or Skillshare. These online education sites provide classes with topics ranging from creative arts, design, entrepreneurship, lifestyle, technology among other subjects.
That’s it! I hope the list helped you or at least gave you an idea of what you can give to your loved one. Remember that you don’t have to stress things out. Your gift will be appreciated, for sure. Happy gift hunting!
Featured Image by depeche18mind on Reshot