--- title: HR Managers Say These Gifts Will Help New College Grads Get a Job description: The class of 2017 is about to enter adulthood and start their careers. Here are some practical, useful gift ideas to help them get started--or find a job period. authors: - name: Martha C. White role: Writer url: https://money.com/author/martha-c-white/ education: BA, English, Princeton University at_money_since: 2015 articles: 350 covers: - Education - Banking - Business - Career Advice - Credit - Credit Cards - Debt - Economy and Politics - Federal Reserve Rate Cuts - Health and Wellness - Housing - Identity Theft - Insurance - Investing - Lifestyle - Loans - Mortgages - Personal Finance - Professional Services - Retirement - Shopping - Taxes - Technology published: '2017-05-22T10:00:30.000Z' modified: '2024-05-08T04:29:31.000Z' section: Education tags: - career advice - College grads - deals - entry level jobs - Gift Guide - gifts - graduation gifts - shop money - Shopping - Workplace word_count: 514 canonical: https://money.com/best-graduation-gifts-college-grad-2017/ type: Article source: structured-blocks --- > **Disclosure:** Money may earn a commission when you click on the products and services below. Opinions are our own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how they appear. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/) about how we make money. ![Graduates throwing their caps into the air](https://img.money.com/2017/05/hrgraduationgifts-em-123521715.jpg) As the class of 2017 makes the official transition to adulthood and the working world, they'll be showered with congratulations—and gifts. Why not make your present something that will help them take those big steps in stride? Sure, you could buy gifts purely for the sake of fun. But if you want to give your grad a career boost (or help them find a job period), it's best to aim for handy things they'll actually use. We asked human resources experts to suggest practical, truly thoughtful gifts that will help the new college grads in your life launch their careers. With so much emphasis on technology, grads might not think about the analog items they'll need, experts point out. "Anything that organizes the grad is a good gift," says Paula Harvey, vice president of human resources and safety at manufacturing company [Schulte Building Systems](http://sbslp.com/). Consider a desk organizer like [this Amazon.com bestseller](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H5CVCN0/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=money018f-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00H5CVCN0&linkId=7eda72fb875d5d12e28f7838fd099446) or a [customizable portfolio](http://bit.ly/2rzGlKo) where they can keep paperwork all in one place. ![](https://img.money.com/2017/05/grad-gift-guide-personalized-binders.jpg) Also, Harvey adds, "My daughter would say cool writing utensils. She loves pens that write well." You can go for a classic like [this wooden pen and case set](http://bit.ly/2rA0xMj) that can be personalized with the grad's name or a message. ![](https://img.money.com/2017/05/grad-gift-guide-personalized-pen.jpg) Or you can give them something a little more playful, like a [set of ball-point pens](http://tidd.ly/d0e0d26b) with phrases of cheery encouragement printed on them. ![](https://img.money.com/2017/05/grad-gift-guide-pink-inspirational-pens.jpg) "I would suggest they get a book on time management, everything from managing your inbox — which will get flooded very quickly — to using their Outlook to manage their activities," says Rodney Alvarez, vice president of talent management at technology company [Celtra](http://www.celtra.com/home). "Time management or how to get things done efficiently is the main question I tend to get from both new college grads and more season workers," he says. Alvarez recommends Harvard Business Review's [*Managing Time*](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1625272243/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=money018f-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1625272243&linkId=04373d033df067e37c8ea50502eb23be). "It is short, easy to read and very actionable," he says. ![](https://img.money.com/2017/05/170516_fathers-day-gifts_manage-time-book.jpg) If the college grad in question is still looking for work, a book of advice on how to land a job is a good option. Dan Ryan, who owns an HR consulting company, suggests [*What Color is Your Parachute?*](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/039957820X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=money018f-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=039957820X&linkId=bd1bdffe8b03e25df6d8ad42f6d22b4d) This book about job-hunting and career change is Amazon's top-seller in the category. ![](https://img.money.com/2017/05/170516_fathers-day-gifts_color-parachute-book.jpg) HR pros have some tech recommendations for new grads as well. "In an open-concept office, [noise-canceling headphones](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E3SNO3E/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=money018f-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01E3SNO3E&linkId=47806912b4b45b22de86123d7808e975) can be helpful," says Mel Hennigan, head of human resources at tech firm [Symplicity](https://www.symplicity.com/). ![](https://img.money.com/2017/05/170516_fathers-day-gifts_bose-headphones.jpg) Harvey also suggests giving a new, top-of-the-line smartphone, which makes for a graduation present that's both fun and practical. If you're feeling generous, spring for the brand-new Samsung [Galaxy S8](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y137TLR/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=money018f-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B06Y137TLR&linkId=6ca118fcef747385d3fc2de4ee1c3bb2) or [Galaxy S8+](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y15G61T/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=money018f-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B06Y15G61T&linkId=308d5c588e07739e86d379aa54831894). ![](https://img.money.com/2017/05/170516_fathers-day-gifts_samsung-galazy-s8.jpg) And if you're shelling out that kind of money, it might be worth paying a little more and getting [a sturdy case](http://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8147966/type/dlg/sid/MYgradgiftguide/https://griffintechnology.com/us/collections/survivor/survivor-clear/survivor-clear-samsung-galaxy-s8) that can shake off a drop to the floor. ![](https://img.money.com/2017/05/grad-gift-guide-griffin-technologies.png) Although not as tangible, HR experts also say a good gift for a new grad is a subscription or membership to a trade journal or association for the industry where they hope to break in. *We’ve included affiliate links into this article. 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