Counseling, books, courses provide learning opportunities

If getting the mortgage paid and groceries purchased wasn't hard enough for job seekers, the holiday season unloads yet another source of stress. Though most people out of work would probably prefer a new job more than any other gift, shoppers will need to settle for other more realistic options. A number of Las Vegas-based businesses, both national chains and local enterprises, offer a variety of products and services ideal for anyone shopping for a job seeker this holiday season.

Being out of a job may be the perfect time to re-evaluate what exactly a person wants to do for a living. Gift givers may want to consider paying for time with a career counselor for undecided job seekers. Career counselors act as teachers and advisers by helping people match careers with their interests, styles and abilities.

According to CareerJourneys.net, counseling normally lasts one to three sessions and may consist of personal and professional assessments and individual or group counseling sessions. Those who hope to give career counseling sessions to someone this holiday season should know there are career counselor certificate programs, many of which recommend competencies outlined by the National Development Association.

While having a personal career counselor is preferable, Eli Amdur, senior coach and adviser at Amdur Coaching and Advisory Group, has recently published a book titled "It's Not That Far From Here to There: The Thinking Person's Guide to a Well-managed Career." Amdur, whose columns appear in newspapers across the country, including the Las Vegas Review-Journal, has gathered more than 70 of his articles that form a well-rounded career resource on subjects such as writing resumes and cover letters, interviewing and job search strategies. For more information or to order the book, visit the website www.amdurcoaching.com.

Before getting back to work, some people may need to brush up on specific skill sets. In 2002, Las Vegas resident Dr. David Archer began building LearningMeasure.com to offer mathematics, engineering and measurement training courses designed for skill levels ranging from high school students to those who have advanced degrees.

"My original intent was to build a training service to teach recent college engineering graduates what they should have learned in college to help them be better engineers," Archer said.

LearningMeasure.com course offerings include information on website development, physics, electrical engineering, programming and other similar topics. The ASQ Certified Calibration Technician exam preparation program is specifically geared for technicians in the metrology field who need certification.

"A recent set of requests have been for more basic algebra courses and a basic mathematics course," he said. "Some of the courses are appropriate for review by people who want to go back to college for an associate or bachelor's degree."

The cost of subscription services to LearningMeasure.com are $5 per month, payable through PayPal, to access all online content.

"I decided early on that it should be inexpensive (to take courses), as those just starting out would not have a lot of cash on hand," he said. "I figured almost everyone could afford $5 a month for technical training."

Most job seekers will need to find employment through traditional application procedures, which means they may need a cover letter and resume that stand out from others. According to its website, VegasEmployment.com, Las Vegas-based Advantage Resume & Desktop Publishing Co. has been in business for more than 25 years, and its staff has written more than 55,000 resumes.

The company offers a variety of services for job seekers including the creation of a resume, cover letter, salary history, job reference listing and follow-up letter, said Craig Kagel, president of the company.

"In this marketplace, people need assistance to find work. There is probably nothing more useful and giving than presenting (these services) to a friend or loved one this holiday season," he said.

Other services available for an additional fee through Advantage Resume & Desktop Publishing Company include career counseling, interview techniques counseling, skill assessments, desktop publishing services and text creation for websites, he said.

Job seekers will need to be involved during the actual creation of the resume, but this service can be given as a gift. "(People) can purchase a gift certificate of any combination of services at a discount over the holiday season," Kagel said.

In order to stay in touch with employers, job seekers can take advantage of low-cost cellphone options. One of the newest products on the market is T-Mobile's smartphone, the Samsung Exhibit II 4G, which was introduced Oct. 27. The phone, which is available at most Walmart stores and will be available at T-Mobile retails stores, comes with either no annual contract plan or a two-year contract plan, according to press materials.

Features of the phone include a touch screen, Web browsing, popular applications and services from Google, and access to thousands of other Android applications.

As mobile technology increasingly becomes more pronounced in the way we live, the marriage of recruitment and mobile is inevitable. Mobile has changed the way we communicate personally and professionally; now, it is expanding the way in which job seekers find the right positions and employers find the right candidates.

Recruitment newspaper mobile sites, such as http://m.LVRJjobs.com, are a new application resource for job seekers with Web-enabled smartphones. Hyper-connected job seekers of today have the ability to not only search but also apply to local listings by sending their resume and skill profile to hiring managers directly from their mobile phones -- a feature that was not previously available.

Though people may be searching for gifts for job seekers this year, there is a possibility that those shopping may also be strapped for cash when looking for the perfect present. According to "Shift Your Habit" by Elizabeth Rogers, the average consumer spends $625 on gifts for family, friends and co-workers during the holiday season.

If consumers are low on cash in the coming months, there are ways to cut back on spending. Many retail chain stores offer gift packages based on themes such as specific branded beauty supplies and professional accessories including a tie, tie tack and cufflinks. These packages are generally less expensive to purchase than if the single items are bought individually.

Shopping at a secondhand store such as Goodwill is also a good alternative to standard retail outlets to get the most out of the money available to spend.

"One of the best things a job seeker (or someone shopping for a job seeker) can find at Goodwill is a great quality suit for a great price," said Kathy Topp, spokesperson for Goodwill of Southern Nevada. The suits, which are collected during the company's suit drives, range from $9.99 to $29.99 per suit for both men and women.

"(The suit drives) provide a great bargain for someone who is looking for that perfect black interview suit or maybe a new shirt or a new tie to go underneath that suit," she said. Ties generally cost $1.99 to $3.99.

"What appears in a store is a direct result of what's donated," Topp said. Brand names vary depending on what is donated, but past products have included brands such as Jones New York, Liz Clairborne, Anne Taylor, Kasper and others that are generally exclusive to department stores.

In addition to the professional clothing found at Goodwill, shoppers will also find a range of briefcases, purses and handbags.

"We're all tight for money right now, and looking professional for jobs can be extremely expensive, so it makes perfect sense to shop someplace like a Goodwill," she said. "If you haven't been in a Goodwill store lately, you will be surprised. You will be very surprised."

Unlike many stores that offer standard items, secondhand stores offer a rotating selection of goods that can change by the hour.

"The cool thing about shopping at Goodwill is that the merchandise turns over very quickly. Every time you go into a Goodwill store, you never know what's going to be on the shelves," Topp said. This means that shoppers on a budget are presented with new merchandise from which to choose throughout the holiday season.

Because of the constant turnover, Topp said shoppers should make frequent trips to Goodwill to browse the merchandise, which is refreshed all day long, every day of the week.

Shoppers buying for job seekers should note that discounts and sales are also available throughout the store. Certain colored tags are available for discounts on certain days of the week, and those who work for the military, at a casino or as teachers also are eligible for discounts on particular days of the week. Senior citizens receive a 50 percent discount on Wednesdays.

Goodwill shoppers will not only find quality products for a reasonable price, but they also help stimulate the local economy through Career Connections, which comes back to support job seekers, Topp said.

"Every time you spend money at a Goodwill store, you actually help to put the people in our community back to work because the sale of those gently used items funds job training and job education programs here in the valley. Not only can you get a good buy for your supplies or clothing for job seeking, but you're actually helping someone else go back to work in our community," she said.

Career Connections, Goodwill's job placement service, has been serving Las Vegas since 2005 and has placed nearly 1,000 individuals in new jobs in 2011, she said. This free service includes one-on-one career consultations, job fair information, resume preparation assistance, access to a resume and interviewing skills resource center, and other services.

"This is a way to give back to the community and also find a good deal for someone who is searching for a job," Topp said. "It's a win-win situation."

If gift buyers are uncertain about what to buy job seekers this holiday season, gift cards are always a legitimate option. Most retail and department stores allow purchasers to choose the gift amount, and then job seekers can use this money to purchase clothes, job-related accessories or books on certain skills or careers.

In addition, many service-related retailers also offer gift cards. Many job seekers are saving money for the bare essentials like rent and utility bills, so gift cards for fun, "extra" services may be particularly appreciated.

This may be the first time in a long time that job seekers are able to go out to eat or go to the movie theater without feeling guilty about spending money. Gift cards have become increasingly popular in recent years, so chances are that your job seeker's favorite business offers one.

In addition to entertainment gifts, shoppers may want to consider buying gift cards for more practical services as well. Gift cards for gas stations and airlines help job seekers get where they need to go for their interviews. It may also be appropriate to buy gift cards for haircuts or massages, which allow job seekers to look and feel their best when they search for the perfect career.