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Lots of people are buzzing about the recent New York Times Magazine cover story, “What is it About 20-Somethings?” The article focuses on the fact that today’s 20-somethings are “delaying adulthood” by moving back in with their parents, marrying later and hopping from career to career.

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 Millennial generation.

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:

1. Show appreciation for responsibility and opportunity.

One of the biggest grievances I hear from managers is that Gen Y employees expect to be given high-level, exciting work on day one of a job. Never forget that you are being paid to work! And your bosses probably “paid their dues” for a long time to get where they are. Many of them expect you to pay your dues too, even though technology and business move much faster these days.

The best way to receive the kind of work you want is to do a great job with every assignment you’re given. Then, when you do receive increased responsibility or a cool project, be sure to say thank you to the person who assigned it. Gratitude is remembered and rewarded.

2. Follow protocol.

While you may want to share your suggestions directly with the CEO of your company, it’s probably more appropriate for you to share those thoughts with your direct boss first. This type of hierarchical reporting structure may change someday when Gen Ys are in the corner office, but for now, it’s reality. If you’re not sure whether it’s okay to reach out to someone at a higher level, ask your boss or colleagues first.

3. Focus on what you can do for your employer, not the other way around.

In cover letters, email messages, conversations with recruiters, salary negotiations, etc., make sure you frame your value in terms of what you can offer, not what you need. Recruiters roll their eyes at cover letters that begin with, “I would like to find a position in which I can learn.” Likewise, negotiations fail when you ask for more money because, “I need it.” You’ll have a better chance of getting what you want when you focus your argument on how it will benefit the company in terms of increased sales, more productivity or lower costs. Always ask yourself, “What’s in it for them?”

As I read through the above list, it strikes me that avoiding the entitlement label is really about using your common sense and best manners. What do you think? Please share in the comments!

On Tuesday night I attended a dinner hosted by the Atlantic Media Company in Washington, DC, to discuss the results of the brand new Allstate-National JournalHeartland Monitor Poll, which offers a look at the economic experience of the Millennial generation.

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.

The current recession will have lasting effects. This is seriously concerning (and was also the topic of BusinessWeek’s cover story, “The Lost Generation”). Recent research has shown that young people who graduate in recession years are at a disadvantage for a very long time. According to the National Journal, Yale economist Lisa Kahn has found that even at midcareer, people who graduated in tough economic times are more likely to work in low-pay, low-status positions. However, at the dinner we discussed a possible upside — that recession-era graduates might become more entrepreneurial given that they have little to lose by starting their own businesses.

Millennials believe in themselves. Despite the recession, the Allstate-National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll found that 62% of Millennials believe that their own actions (more than events outside their control) are responsible for the their economic well-being. This reminds me of other research findings I hear often: that American students trail many other countries in academic achievement, but lead in one area: confidence. The question is: does reality match Millennials’ confidence? Hmm.

Parents’ basements are crowded. According to the poll, 52% of post-high school Millennials receive financial support from their parents to meet their daily needs, and one-third of 20-something Millennials live at home. This is not surprising, considering the average Gen Y-er carrying debt owes over $37,000, mostly in school loans.  What are the consequences of this debt? Here's one: I spoke with a man from the National Association of Homebuilders who told me that in the future we’ll likely see more multigenerational households, which means more new houses will feature multiple master bedroom suites for the different generations.

Higher education is in trouble. As with most discussions about Millennials in the workplace, our conversation ended up on questions about education: Should everyone go to college? Does college adequately prepare young people for the real world? Is college loan debt worth it? One of the more disappointing findings of the poll is that 51% of Millennials believe they could perform their job responsibilities just as well without a college education. This may not be all that surprising given the fact that economists say the break-even point for a college education occurs around age 33. Of course, as one dinner guest pointed out, college is about more than job preparation. But should we be concerned that college doesn’t feel all that relevant to many young people? For more on this topic, I highly recommend the new book DIY U by Anya Kamenetz.

As with many good discussions, I left the dinner with more questions than answers. But it’s gratifying to know that many smart, thoughtful people are working on these big issues.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on all of these topics. Check out the Allstate-National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll and the National Journal’s special report, and share your thoughts in the Comments section!

Last Friday I spoke at an event for graduate students considering careers outside of academia. I loved the energy in the room -- there was a palpable feeling of excitement and potential. Of course, there was also a fair amount of fear.

The overarching advice I shared for anyone switching directions or making a career change is to position yourself as an insider in the industry you want to join. While it’s always scary to try something new, the more homework you do and the more action you take in the direction of your goal, the likelier you are to succeed.

Even if you are not currently a career changer, you will likely make multiple career transitions in your lifetime, so this is a valuable skill to learn and practice.

Let’s look at the actions you can take to successfully change career direction:

1. Start to build new experiences. As soon as you have the idea of switching career paths, dive right in and start to build your experience in that area, even if you start with only an hour a week. You’ll need something on your resume -- volunteer work, an internship, blog posts, class work, etc. -- that shows you are really serious about breaking into a new profession. Otherwise, people will suspect that you’re all talk.

2. Read everything you can about the industry you want to enter. Start to read trade publications, blogs, e-newsletters, LinkedIn group discussions and the Twitter feeds of anyone and everyone you can follow in the industry you want to join. Know which companies are in the news, which executives are succeeding or flailing, what the hot products or services are, where people go for lunch, when and where upcoming conference are taking place. As you become more comfortable with the news and issues, start to comment on blog posts and Tweets so you can become part of the conversation and get noticed by people who are hiring.

3. Set up Google Alerts. Once you zero in on specific organizations you’d like to work for, set up Google alerts for the names of any companies you want to join. This will give you a deeper sense of the major news and issues facing those particular organizations. Alerts will also ensure that you have specific, intelligent questions to ask and conversation topics to bring up when you attend networking events or land a job interview at one of those companies.

4. Talk to anyone you can who works or has worked in the industry you want to join. While Internet research is essential, nothing beats talking to a real person who has firsthand experience in the profession that interests you. Research people in your dream industry on LinkedIn and reach out for informational interviews. Talk to your friends, family and career services office to see if they can introduce you to anyone they know in your desired field. Ask these industry mentors to recommend insider tips, must-read publications and advice on what jobs in their field are most realistic for outsiders to transition into.

Come listen in on my conversation with Pete Kistler, the founder of Brand-Yourself.com, who was named one of Entrepreneur magazine's Top 5 College Entrepreneur of 2009. He joins me to talk about personal branding as it relates to college students and young professionals.

In this podcast, we define personal branding, talk about Pete’s own personal branding process and explain why students and young professionals need to think about your personal brand -- especially the image you’re projecting online.

For more on this topic, here are two great new resources that can help you create and enhance all aspects of your personal brand:

PricewaterhouseCoopers Personal Brand Week - a terrific collection of downloadable worksheets to help you create an elevator pitch, express your passion, build a network, promote yourself online and more. PwC is also collecting free personal branding advice on Twitter with the hashtag #pwcpbw.

Student Branding Blog - a new resource expressly designed to help college students with personal branding. This site was created by Dan Schawbel, who also launched the Personal Branding Blog.

Click here to listen to this week's podcast.

How have you approached personal branding as a student or young professional? As always, I welcome your comments below!

I’ve always loved new beginnings -- the first day of a new month, the turning of a new season, even the sunrise of a new day (on the rare occasion I’m up early enough to see it). Of course there is no bigger new beginning than the turning of the calendar to January 1.

This year in particular, the New Year feels like a crucial fresh start. 2009 will go down in the books as one of the hardest years ever for job seekers, especially those looking for entry-level work. If you’ve had a tough time in 2009, or even if it’s been a great year for you, here are some tips for starting 2010 on a successful note.

Out With the Old. To make room for new things in your life (a great job, fresh ideas, more money, a strong network, etc.) you need to get rid of any clutter that is weighing you down. This might include critical people, a job that drains your energy, college junk piled in your closet or self-defeating thoughts like “I’ll never get a job in this economy.” For inspiration, check out two of my favorite resources on the topic of simplifying and decluttering: the Zen Habits Blog and Julie Morgenstern’s book, Shed Your Stuff, Change Your Life.

Set Quality (not Quantity) Goals. We all know that New Year’s resolutions are generally forgotten by February. So, instead of making a long list of “rules” for my year, I prefer to declare three to five big goals or priorities. I keep them in a little note file on my computer and on a little card pasted on the inside cover of the notebook I use every day. I peek at my list constantly to remind myself what my priorities are, how I want to spend my time and what opportunities I should not pursue. If you need help clarifying your goals, check out Your Best Year Yet! Ten Questions for Making the Next Twelve Months Your Most Successful Ever.

Do One Career-Related Thing Every Day. This is a piece of advice I share in every workshop I lead and with every student who asks for my most important career tip: take daily action. Just like being healthy or learning an instrument or excelling at a sport, being successful in your career requires daily commitment and daily action. Here are some to consider:
•    reading a career advice article on MyPath
•    attending a local networking event
•    tweeting out a career-related question to your Twitter followers
•    posting a comment to a professional discussion group on LinkedIn
•    reaching out to an alum of your school for an informational interview
•    reading one chapter of a career advice book
•    setting up an appointment with your college career center

•    applying for a job

•    anything else you can think of!

Finally, please don’t hesitate to send me your career questions (and yes, sending me a question counts as a daily action!). I will be answering reader questions in upcoming “College to Career” blog posts and podcasts here in MyPath in 2010.

Happy New Year!

If you're looking for a job in today's difficult economy, you must be prepared at any moment for an opportunity to arise. Often an interview or job will go to one of the first people to respond, so you have to be ready at all times.

Listen to my new podcast to hear more about the following tips for being properly prepared:

1. Have every required job search item. This includes such must-haves as a proofread and professionally vetted resume printed out on nice paper and a clean and ironed interview outfit hanging in your closet.

2. Have your virtual image cleaned and polished too. These days, your virtual image can be just as important as your real one. Double check to make sure all of your online profiles are professionally appropriate. Remove those crazy Homecoming photos and status updates about skipping class, and set up a professional profile on LinkedIn that promotes your work-related accomplishments.

3. Practice your pitch. People will judge you based on how you introduce and talk about yourself, so be prepared for the inevitable moment when you'll be asked to "tell me a bit about yourself." Practice introducing yourself in a positive way and get very clear and concise about what kind of job you're looking for and what you have to offer. Being able to introduce yourself is deceptively difficult. Don't wing it!

4. Have business cards. Carrying business cards shows people you meet that you are active in the professional world even if you don’t have a full-time job. All you need on the card are your name, phone number and email address. Bring your business cards everywhere you go -- the gym, Thanksgiving dinner, the nail salon -- you never know when a chance meeting could lead to an opportunity.

5. Set up Google alerts. Finally, prepare your brain by reading a major newspaper every day and empowering yourself with daily information about the companies you want to work for. Set up free Google news alerts with the names of employers and industry topics so you can keep up to date on important news and any potential opportunities.

Listen to this week's podcast for more on this topic!