5 career-focused gift ideas

The days are winding down on the holiday shopping season but there's still time to find a gift for that career-focused person in your life.

Considering economists are predicting that in 2015, Indiana will experience its strongest economic recovery since before 2008 and an estimated 40,000 new jobs are expected in Central Indiana, a career-related gift could give job-seekers the edge over a competitor.

Here are five ideas:

1. Clothes: Many Hoosiers will start a new job or advance in an old one next year. New clothes — suits, ties, slacks, sweaters, shirts, skirts, dresses, etc. — appropriate for the workplace, could be welcomed. Accessories are options, too.

2. Book on networking: Sometimes it's not what you know but who you know that makes the difference in a career — networking offers the opportunity to make those virtual and in-person connections. Buy a how-to book on building those skills and navigating it all. Check local bookstores or online retailers for the top sellers.

3. Gift card to a favorite coffee shop or restaurant: If a person has been out of work for awhile or is a recent graduate, funds could be tight. Give them a gift card that will allow them to get cup of coffee or go to lunch with new co-workers without feeling the money pinch. Even if money is not an issue, a gift card for a meal or snack is a nice gesture.

4. Membership to a professional organization: This is possibly a career changer. Joining an organization that is profession-specific could open opportunities to training, mentoring and networking, among other benefits.

5. Business cards or resume service: These practical gifts can have a tremendous impact if your recipient is looking for a job or looking to change a job. Experts can evaluate and edit a resume for the greatest impression, while business cards are tangible reminders of contacts long after a meeting ends.

Call Star reporter Leisa Richardson at (317) 444-6378. Follow her on Twitter @leisarichardson.