Strange you should ask--I just answered that question in an article today: http://www.newdeal20.org/2010/07/28/is-the-american-dream-dead-for-millennials-15986/

I am 23 years old, working on an undergraduate and sitting on an A.A. while washing dogs at a pet groomer's. I am making minimum wage PART TIME, wondering if I should even continue my education. I witness so many graduates struggling with loans when they leave school and I don't want to be in their shoes. Why don't we all stop getting loans and find some other ways to afford college? Isn't that the reason we are all suffering in the first place? Yeah, loans are easier to get than scholarships, but it is only a temporary fix! Its so hard to find a job in my area unless you have less than high school degree and two babies on your hip!

Video Kill the Radio Star Internet Killed the Music and Video Stores Example

World Full of Over Educated Over Qualified People Now With No Jobs To Fill All the Jobs For the Educated People Gone Now Working on My Loan or trying to it is tough being unemployed trying to find work
But the President Said Yes We Can But I am Finding that Really Hard to Believe

I've concluded that you need to look at education as a value in and of itself. It is good to be educated and be able to communicate on various levels. Education used to be the ticket to success, but that is gone for at least now. However, it does not mean it is gone forever.

I find it ironic that most of the people who are sympathizing with the Millennials are Baby Boomer parents who created these entitled brats.

As a 40 y/o Gen Xer, with three degrees from Ivy League-caliber schools (studio art, engineering, MBA) making the same amount I made BEFORE I entered b-school 14 years ago (when you adjust for inflation), I can't feel sorry for the children of Baby Boomers who are clogging up the job market and hogging senior positions in corporate America. When my friends and I graduated from college, we took jobs where we could learn and grow, without the expectation of being in charge after six months. Today, I work in a mid-sized company, where I am sandwiched between Boomers who can't afford to retire and won't move on, but have lost their edge and Gen Y staffers who think they should be on the same professional footing with me because we work under the same boss. Needless to say, I'm offering to write glowing B-school recommendations for any 20-something in the office that wants one, while praying the stock market turns around and our organization doesn't increase the minimum retirement age, so we can get rid of some of this Boomer dead wood.

Give me break. I wish I had my 25 year old son's life. He has a film degree and is working for pauper's wages at NBC in Los Angeles - and having a blast. But he lives with 3 roommates, eats at home a lot, and still drives the care he got as a high school graduation present. The economy was bad in '75 when I graduated from college and I didn't get my dream job for a number of years. The guys in the generation that returned from WWII often shared housing (even beds) when they first came home. Y's are talented and smart. The ones who are willing to work and accept a little delayed gratification will be just fine.

I'm 59 yrs old. What I'd like to see is each generation have a level playing field as compared to other generations. This isn't happening. The cost of education has risen insanely since I was a kid, while prospects have dimmed for those just starting out in life. Other future factors will include the long term effects of the rapid inflation of the National Debt. Glad I ain't gonna be around to have to pay that sucker off. I find my generation has shirked it's duties to future generations. I apologize. I help as I can.

Gen Y is no more disadvantaged that other generations. It has been my experience that having a degree does not necessarily make one the most qualified or the best available candidate. I had to "bronco" my way through the ranks back in the late 70s early 80s and I don't see any big differences today (other than the debt load and an over abundance of meaningless degrees) Certainly the high unemployment figures take their toll on everyone. As a potential employer I've seen the field of applicants grow significantly, therefore I can be more selective. If a degree is not directly related to the career field being pursued, give me meaningful experience. I will only consider unrelated degrees as a tie breaker. Interview tip -- Confidence is good, arrogance is something else. Show a little modesty and drop the "entitlement" attitude.

I couldn't answer that poll question for one.

I think "millennials", are in a huge bind ... a huge amount of college debt, in order to "better themselves" with college degree(s) so they are not be a burden to society and their families ... isn't that what we want in our society? We want our citizens to take care of themselves.

And their parents, now, who possibly/probably carry even more of that debt as well.

When we were in college, the nearby state college was less than $2000 per year tuition and fees ... on average over 4 years. We lived at home, and worked part time to pay for classes ... the room and board was mostly paid by mom and dad. No debt upon graduation.

But we made great salaries as a reward ... and many of us could afford to send our kids to private universities, but our kids had to take out at least $20K in loans to help pay their part.

My kids are fortunate. The right timing, and career choice is everything ... My youngest started her full-time dream job this month, and oldest getting good raises even now.

My husband lost the job that allowed all this, and is finally under-employed ... but it is clear that among those over 50, it is so hard to find jobs ... using every means available.

So today, my answer depends on which generation I dwell on ... in this family we are doing well, maybe a little more on the boring, cheap side, but things could be worse.

I just know that looking for a job is hard right now, for everyone who needs a job or wants a new job.

No matter who you are, things could probably be even worse, if you honestly think about it and make the beat of it. Or not.

last line s/be ^ "best of it"

I can't believe some of you guys are going as far as to smear Generation Y we haven't had a chance to prove ourselves. Generation Y is coming out the most costly educations with little or no prospects for employment. What employment we do get is underpaid and on chintzy ground in terms of longevity. At least the previous generations had a chance at bountiful jobs and decent pay before this economy took a dive. You're taking time to smear the youngest generation on the job market when it was all of their predecessors who screwed things up. It was the Baby boomers and Gen Xers that bought and bought and bought with no thought as to what they were going to do when their cash cows dried up. I know a lot of recent grads who would love the chance to prove their worth and do some hard work for honest pay. The only problem is that the previous generations have screwed things up so royally there aren't any jobs. The one thing I think is interesting that this article failed to mention is that Generation Y is the most charitable of all in the most recent generations, spending their free time volunteering and donating part of what they do earn to the unfortunate. Just remember one thing... Don't hate on us too much. We'll be running the show soon.

100k student loan, plus interest... how stupid can you be? It will take you more than half your working life to break even. retards. And we let these fools go to college? They should be mowing our lawns

Yeah Jimmy, you enjoy thinking like that. I've taken care of myself since I was 16. I do have full time employment. I'm just flabbergasted that none of you are taking your share of the responsibility. Oh and Jimmy, learn how to read. It's Obvius.

Oh, and go go ad hominem arguments. That's always a way to show your mental worth.

Hahaha, nice deletion of your comment. Unless an admin did it.

YES we are at a disadvantage. I'm class of 2009 college graduate, 3.8 Suma Cum Laude honors with 2 marketing internships under my belt, I worked at a restaurant right out of college because NOONE is RETIRING nor are any of the fields hiring.

Generation X and Baby Boomers are still keeping their jobs that they had for over 4 decades and refusing to retire which is making it harder for Millennials like myself who worked our butts off to make barely minimum wage.

If they all have the writing talent of "Vaio," I think I know why they can't find work that will pay off their student loans.

Baby Boomers in the way of the newer generation getting job's? ,, ummmm retire to a fixed income in this day and age ? and where did the jobs go ? ask the goverment about the flow of jobs overseas or big busness who's only intrest is profit. before you condem those older people who are working, ask yourself how much they have lost or will lose if they retire to a fixed income that doesn't grow to cover their basic needs.

No different really than the dope smoking, draft dodging, grey-beard, whiney, baby boomers. 'Cept these turds have cell phones and stupid little facey spaces and bliggity blogs and PS3s....

Yuck!

As a 21-year old, I see the comparative playing field between generations as a sort of trade-off. On one hand, my generation has grown up with a vast array of technology that did not exist for previous generations. In that respect, I feel advantaged and grateful to be living in the new millenium. On the other hand, my generation is negatively impacted by having to start our lives in the midst of an economic recession as opposed to Baby Boomers who started their working lives in the midst of an economic boom. I do realize that all generations are being slammed by the recession, but it is my personal opinion that I'd rather be hit hard by economic trouble later in life than when I am just starting out.

However, I am grateful to be one of the more fortunate ones. Through hard work and dedication in high school encouraged by my parents kicking me in the ass as a kid, I've managed to secure a full ride to Lehigh University. So, I'm one of the lucky ones, coming out of a top-notch school with a computer science degree and practically zero debt. I don't mean this to sound arrogant or condescending, but I do worry for my peers at Lehigh that are wasting a very expensive education on a completely worthless subject such as Art History or Philosophy in this comparatively jobless economy. I say "comparatively" because although things are bad here in America compared to the average, it is still leagues better than people in other countries have it. I still like to keep myself grounded by realizing that I am not "entitled" to anything, and that I am pretty damn fortunate to be here in America and better off than most of my peers. I see so many other interns in the company I work for that have this irritating sense of entitlement and disrespect towards the programmers with over ten times the knowledge and experience as us.