Here is an excerpt of my letter:

As I read Robin Marantz Henig’s discussion of 20-somethings, I was struck by the sense that the new life stage she was ascribing to this generation could actually be something that adults of all ages experience today: feeling unstable, struggling with ferocious competition for jobs, wondering if our relationships and finances can go the distance.

I consider it progress that every young person doesn’t feel the need to complete school, leave home, marry and have a child by a certain deadline. There is no “one size fits all” adulthood…

Read the rest of the letter here.

What did you think of Marantz Henig’s article? Please share your thoughts!

The article speculates about whether these shifts are happening because of the current economy, a fundamental change in the definition of adulthood or — as many of the article’s more negative commenters believe — the “entitled” nature of the Generation Y.

Personally, I believe that 20-somethings are simply reflecting the reality of our current times. But I have seen evidence that many Millennials aren’t aware of the way they are perceived, particularly in the workplace. I frequently hear recruiters and employers complain that today’s young people have a sense of entitlement — a belief that they deserve jobs, high salaries and advanced responsibilities even when they don’t have much experience.

Whether you personally feel this way or not, it’s important to understand that this perception of 20-somethings is out there. In many companies, the older generations are still in charge, so when you’re looking for a job or wanting to advance in your career, you’ll have a better chance of success if you avoid the “entitled” label. Here are some tips for overcoming the “e” word…

Read these tips on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com…

In the meantime, on to my newest post. Looking forward to your comments!

What I Wish I’d Known in College

As someone who spends my days interacting with college students and thinking about their career prospects, I often think back to my own days on campus. I’ll admit that I experience a mix of nostalgia, relief and regret. I enjoyed college, but I also struggled to find direction during those four years.

While I know I can’t change the past — and my struggles transitioning from college to career led me to the work that I do now — there are definitely some things I would have done differently. For what it’s worth, here are three things I wish I’d known in college that I know now, in my 30s:

1. Great teachers and mentors are rarer than you think. I wish I’d taken classes in college based solely on the amazingness of the professors, regardless of the subject of the classes they taught. If there is a “star” teacher at your school, take his or her class, even if you just audit it from the back row. No matter what that person teaches, his or her passion will inspire you and may open your eyes to something you never previously considered.

Read the rest of this post on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com…

(Image: Montclair Public Schools)

Recent surveys show that Millennials want to make a difference in the world. The National Association of Colleges and Employers found that 27 percent of graduating seniors in 2009 plan to work for nonprofit groups or government. Another survey by the Partnership for Public Service found that 90 percent would be interested in a federal government job. On top of that, the recent Heartland Monitor Poll found that 55 percent of Millennials are seeking long-term job security.

Many of the jobs that make a difference in the world, like those in environmental, social services, education, community development, religion, international development or the arts, are found only in the nonprofit sector or government. Some of the most interesting and fulfilling jobs—like wildlife biologists, foreign service officers, community development specialists, social workers, disaster management specialists, or community organizers and advocates, can only be found in government or nonprofit organizations.

Another reason to consider public service work is that many of these jobs are the most stable in a down economy. For instance, the layoff rate for government was only 0.6 percent in January 2009, compared with 2.1 percent in the private sector.

But the job search for nonprofit or government entities can be very different from the typical ones you might have been prepared for by your college career center. For instance, government agencies may ask you to write essays about your work experience and how it relates to a job, or you may have to take a civil service test. You have to follow all instructions carefully in order to be considered, and a normal resume may not work. For a nonprofit organization, you should highlight your volunteer experience and leadership, and make sure to network as much as possible into the often tight-knit nonprofit community.

Interested in learning more about public service careers? Heather’s new book, Jobs That Matter: Find a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service (© 2010 JIST Works), shares the secrets you need to land a fulfilling job in public service. For more tips from Heather, visit www.heatherkrasna.com.

There were about 20 of us at the table, including representatives from government, think tanks, media outlets and labor unions.  The discussion was moderated by Ron Brownstein, who is not only a well-respected journalist and father of a Millennial, but, I learned, is also a fellow fan of Lost. (Yes, he was careful to end the dinner before Tuesday night’s episode.)

Here are some of my main takeaways from the discussion and the poll:

Job security is trendy. One of the more surprising findings of the poll is that 55% of Millennials say their goal is long-term employment with a single employer. And, when asked to rank their most important workplace priorities, job security was number one (with money a close number two). Personally, I believe this will change as the economy improves. I just don’t see Gen Y-ers sticking with traditional career paths with all of the options and portable benefits available in the new economy. In fact, many of the dinner attendees joked that they don’t even want to work for their current employers for the rest of their careers.

Read the rest of this post on my “College to Career” blog at MyPath.com…

When did the Baby Boomers mantra “Don’t trust anyone over 30” turn into “Don’t trust anyone under 30”?

Why, during the worst economy in over 60 years, would anyone tell our youngest workers—our future leaders—that they are “not special” and “woefully unprepared”? If we said this about any other type of worker, it would be discrimination. Why is it okay to bash young workers?

I acknowledge that many Millennials (those born in the 1980s and 90s) are not as prepared as previous generations when it comes to some very important areas of work, such as writing skills and professionalism. I would argue in return that they are significantly more prepared in such very important areas as technology and globalization.

And yes, many young workers like to change jobs frequently. But this is a natural and understandable result of growing up in a time of unprecedented economic expansion, the dot com revolution and rounds upon rounds of corporate downsizings. Millennials know they’ll never work at one company for 30 years and retire with a gold watch. They’re not disloyal; they’re realistic. And, when they find a company that has adapted to the new realities of the workforce, such as Zappos.com, they do stay.

It’s important for a news outlet like MSNBC to report that younger workers have been especially hard hit in the economic downturn. It’s another thing entirely to basically blame it on the young workers. Criticizing Millennials is a total waste of time and energy. Instead of disparaging the young people quoted in the article, why not offer them some tips to land jobs, or balance the piece with some stories of Millennials who are succeeding despite the recession?

Most of the organizations I know that employ Millennials have some complaints. But, those employers tell me, once they provide some coaching and adapt their training and management practices a bit, they are generally thrilled with the productivity, creativity and hard work of their young workers. I’ve seen the same with the Gen Ys I know and work with.

I’ve seen:

young people, like Marissa Davis, who are starting organizations to solve social problems

young people, like BusinessWeek’s best entrepreneurs of 2008, who are starting profitable ventures

young people, like Aaron Schock, who are running for Congress — and winning

young people, like Nuzhat Karim, who are working diligently to contribute to the success of their employers.

What is the point of this rant? It’s this: I challenge anyone who wants to criticize young workers to do three things:

1) Talk to a Millennial and ask that young person how he or she sees the world.

2) Tell that Millennial how you see the world.

3) Repeat.

Stop bashing Generation Y. We’re all in this together.

The good news: It’s a new year, and with that new year comes new advice, new tips and new resources for job hunters.

Recently, PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the best places for young professionals to launch a career, invited me to provide tips to help students and recent graduates find jobs and internships right now.

Click here to watch the 5-minute video and to download a list of 10 ways to recession-proof your job search.

If you have additional questions, feel free to submit them here.

Did your New Year’s resolutions include the goal of traveling overseas? Taking more risks? Casting a wider net in your job search? If you’re interested in any of the above, you might be interested in this contest, sponsored by Tourism New South Wales, a consulting client of mine:

Tell us why you deserve to win the ultimate Sydney work and play lifestyle.

All you have to do is tell us why you should in the ultimate working vacation in Sydney. If you win, you can combine a little work or a little study with a LOT of fun and travel. Make it original but most importantly make it about you and why Sydney will love you. Tell us why you should win in a video or in words.

4 Prizes of approx. $6,000 USD each:

- We’ll fly you here – Return flights to Sydney, Australia.
- We’ll get you a job – Talent Management package courtesy of Hudson and CareerOne.
- We’ll make sure you have fun – Free event access courtesy of Moshtix.
- We’ll settle you in – Talent Fee courtesy of Tourism NSW.

Click here to apply now.

Click here to learn more about opportunities to work, study or vacation to Sydney, Australia — now easier thanks to a new Work and Holiday visa arrangement between Australia and the United States.

As I’ve blogged about before, I lived in Australia for two and a half years — feel free to ask me any questions about the experience!

Every day is a new beginning, but a new calendar year offers a particularly great opportunity for fresh starts. This year more than ever, career-minded people are craving new opportunities and new strategies to carry out in January and beyond.

As you think about your plans and goals for 2009, here are 12 career-related resolutions to consider adding to your list.

1. I will do one thing every day to find a job or advance my career. Spend some time every day, even just five minutes, researching potential employers, reading advice articles, following up with people you’ve met, practicing for interviews or doing anything else to help your career prospects. Keep moving forward. Momentum matters.

2. I will update my resume once a month. Especially in an economic downturn, your resume needs to be ready to send at a moment’s notice. Make a note in your calendar to review this important document once a month to be sure it sells your skills and experience in the best possible way.

3. I will regularly review my online presence. While you’re keeping your resume up-to-date, review your online professional presence as well. Google your own name and make sure the results reflect the image you want to project. Many organizations are now relying on social networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook for recruiting, so it’s quite likely your next employer will review your online profile before seeing your official resume.

Read the rest of this post at ABC News on Campus…

Many listeners shared upsetting stories of layoffs and difficulty landing new jobs, and many also offered suggestions on what companies and industries are still hiring. We discussed opportunities in healthcare, education, accounting, trucking, energy, defense and more. Listen to the full program here.

We also talked about the fact that job hunters today have to cast a very wide net in their jobs searches. To that end, here are several recent articles that offer an abundance of suggestions, resources and opportunities:

1. General career and job hunting advice for young professionals, from U.S. News and World Report:
5 Things Every Young Worker Needs to Know

2. Tips to follow if you’ve just lost your job, from career coach Maggie Mistal:
What to Do When You’re Out of a Job

3. Tips for international job searches, from Entry-Level Careers Examiner:
Finding an Internship or Entry-Level Job Abroad

4. Advice on finding a job with a small business (this article provides recruiting advice to small business owners, so just flip it around to see where to position yourself to be recruited), from BusinessWeek:
Where to Find Top Talent

5. Suggestions for advertising industry job seekers, from Advertising Age:
Getting Ready to Graduate? Five Tips for Weathering the Ad Industry Storm

Interested in more articles like these? Join the “Getting from College to Career” Facebook fan page, where new articles, videos and resources are posted every day!