It depends I think. At the very least, it would give him the ability to add a new skill to his resume which would be pretty useful. In some of these low level assistant jobs, they list photoshop knowledge as something that would be beneficial. A lot of entry level marketing jobs also list it, without requiring a formal marketing degree.

At the same time though, for instance, he told me that he is very interested in trying to find some foreign policy-related job where he could leverage his language skills. So I asked him why not start a blog where he offered commentary on events occurring in that region -- but again here, he expressed a lack of any real motivation in actually getting the blog up and running and doing posts on it.

It's just very difficult for me to empathize with someone like that.

I've seen novices do amazing design work. (Usually they go on to a portfolio school after working for a few year or building a studio, though.)

Practice and good taste is pretty much the only things in design. Low-end design is pretty much just keeping up with the lowest common denominator in design style, anybody moderately trained--or self trained--can do it.

"I've seen novices do amazing design work."

Sure. It happens. But that's not the way to bet.

He'd have a lot more luck with a portfolio than without. You don't really have any sort of a shot at getting hired for most creative jobs without a portfolio.