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<p>I’m coming from the POV of a Gen Y being encouraged by my family to start a family when I don’t really want to. It seems as if the Boomer generation largely views having a family as an integral part of success. This sentiment came through in some of the comments in this thread, implying that if you don’t, it’s a sign of drifting.</p>
<p>Also, I realize that parents are concerned for their children, but it is objectively a tough market for recent grads. Some of my friends went to the top schools in the nation (like MIT) and are struggling to find a job that pays above 30k. I read an article that a large percentage of recent P grads are unemployed. None of the people that I know are of the so-called entitled class, a reference about mentality and not necessarily wealth. I don’t think most 20 somethings choose to be drifters; the economy is terrible and some may have student loans that deprive them of financial freedom.</p>
<p>What’s even tougher for Gen Y is that boomers are now working longer and in a way displacing them. A recent economic report about job growth also claims that jobs for those aged between 20 and 24 have declined while there has been job growth for 55+. Employers want to hire people with work experience, and it’s tough getting work experience in a down economy. </p>
<p>So, maybe it is reasonable for 30 to be the new 20. We’re not living in an era where college costs as much as a couple month’s rent; everyone goes to college now so the bachelors degree is devalued; and Gen Y will have to adjust their expectations and goals a lot to even have a shot at the life that Boomers have.</p>
<p>Well you can start out at In and Out Burger making $20,000 per year.hm… MIT grad should be able to do a little better. Sorry Brian but it just doesn’t add up. I don’t know ANY recent college grads that can’t find “A” job. Might not be the one they wanted but it’s a start.</p>
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<p>Entry level IT work pays less than you think in some places.</p>
<p>Upon further inspection, the majority of recent grads are jobless or working at a job that does not require a college degree. That’s basically like unemployment in my book. I don’t think working for minimum wage at a restaurant is considered a start. </p>
<p><a href=“53% of Recent College Grads Are Jobless or Underemployed—How? - The Atlantic”>53% of Recent College Grads Are Jobless or Underemployed—How? - The Atlantic;
<p>When I graduated from college only a few years ago the average starting salary at my school was 50-60k+ for many majors including mine and pretty much everyone I knew had a 60k+ job, god knows what it is now.</p>
<p>Many of S’s 2010 engineering classmates from USC didn’t have a job upon graduation & some of them still didn’t have a job after getting their master’s degree in engineering, just more debt. On the other hand, some folks had multiple job offers. There is considerable variability, even in this tough economy. Salaries & availability of jobs with >$30K pay varies quite a bit. D’s classmates in cinema are having challenges with job hunting as well. Many of her classmates who graduated in 2012 with varying degrees have close to minimum wage jobs–one working on a political campaign for someone seeking re-election for national office, one as a lab asst at Harvard, others just looking for a job. D is happy to be going back to school & internships.</p>
<p>One way to get job experience is to work on campus during the school year and through the summer both in graduate and undergraduate programs. Work experience can trump grades as long as grades are solid.</p>
<p>Umm, the problem with that is that many, many, many of the on-campus jobs are reserved strictly for work-study students (since wages are subsidized). Our D got herself a job (the only non-work-study student), but was told they had to let her go when funding and budgets were reduced, since she was not on work-study. She was unable to get another job in her field on campus.</p>
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<p>Yeah, it really depends on the specialty. From my experience, EECS grads are doing great-you can land six figures straight out of college with EECS; Mech E and Civ E, not so much. I’ve heard good things about Chem E and bad about Bio E. My friend has a master’s in Mech E from a good school and is still having trouble finding a job.</p>
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<p>Absolutely! Family and relationships are the most important things in life.</p>
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<p>What’s funny is that I know exactly what you mean and have definitely seen this myself, but at the same time for some people (like me) that IS still the main goal and people still act like I’m from mars even though not all that long ago that was a completely normal attitude and obviously quite a lot of people still feel that way. You really can’t win.</p>
<p>Interestingly, in my particular circle it seems like the men are feeling more pressure to settle down earlier and be less focused on career, while the women are feeling more pressure to aggressively pursue careers whether that’s really what they’re interested in or not.</p>
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<p>I find this odd also. My parents (now close to 90) did not marry until they were almost 30. They went to colleges, they worked for some years, they met, they married, they had kids. My H and I (50s Boomer kids) did not marry until we were almost 30. We went to college, we worked for some years, we met, we married, we had kids in our 30s. I really hope my boys DON’T marry until they are almost out of their twenties. The oldest is settling in with his job, still not making a ton of money and won’t for several more years. There is so much to do, to see, to experience and to grow in your twenties as an adult. I’m not sure what the “rush” is all about. I certainly hope they don’t have kids until they have stability and they are content with their situation and they have a clear understanding of “who” they are as adults and as individuals.</p>
<p>Finding a job is a job. It doesn’t matter if you are 21 or 51. Kids (and adults) need to put many hours each week into the effort. I graduated in Michigan the year the bumper stickers said “last one out of the state of Michigan turn out the lights” and I left the state to find work. I’m not concerned about my kids. They’ve been working since they were 16 and they are certainly heard it enough from H and I that their ‘job’ after college is to work to find a job.</p>
<p>Married people are happier, healthier and better off financially than singles.</p>
<p>I think there is no point in “rushing,” but if some people arrive at the point where they are ready to settle down before their late 20s early 30s, I don’t think that’s rushing just because that doesn’t fit in with the <em>new</em> timetable. I don’t think it’s a bad thing if not everybody has the same priorities. I do think it is a shame that some people are still feeling pressure to settle down when they are not ready, which I know is happening to some people. That’s such a major and permanent life choice, really no good can come of forcing it at the wrong time. </p>
<p>I wonder if some of these older family members and friends who are doing this are just excited to see us approaching those steps and are jumping the gun without quite realizing how much pressure they are laying on… my parents have certainly done that. We’re buying a house and getting ready to plan a wedding, but aren’t planning on kids for another 3-5 years maybe… we’ll just have to see how things go down the road. But mother is already making plans for us to bring the grandbabies along on her annual Florida trip so she can show off for all her friends, and made it a point to point out the nursery potential of all the spare bedrooms when we were house hunting. She’d never want me to rush, but she’s so excited she can’t seem to contain herself. I’d probably find it very stressful if I didn’t have 23 years of experience ignoring her. 
I just don’t take her seriously and I don’t expect she means to be taken totally seriously either.</p>
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<p>It may be because family members have seen too many of their friends and acquaintances who waited for the sake of career or until they had a “clear understanding of who they are” (?), and ended up with limited options in a mate or difficulty having children.</p>
<p>I read the book and the author is not trying to tell anyone what to do she is just pointing out you do need to be thoughtful and work to have choices. Time is not unlimited and life does not magically fall into place. The press often gives misguided ideas like drinking and hanging out with a group of friends is the way to spend most of your life. Hollywood stars who have babies whenever don’t also list the cost and what they went through to have that child. From the book:</p>
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<p>2 pages later this really struck me!</p>
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<p>I liked the book very much and thought it presented many great ideas including it is easy to look at the wrong things in a relationships and life. During your twenties, you have brain development which allows you to learn more faster and it is the best time for career risks. Guys should be concerned about the quality of their relationships and the timing of having children for many reasons (one newer reason-studies linking older sperm to Autism and ADHD).</p>
<p>I sent the book to my son, who seems to be moving in some direction. He liked it, passed it on to his roommate and recommended it to others who are drifting. I hope it just makes the rounds and spurs some on.</p>
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<p>I always fell out of my chair reading this. All the people I know that are single (and the age range varies) are happier than the people who are married (with or without kids).</p>
<p>I passed this book along a few months ago to my 20something son who has been living with his SO for nearly two years. He recently proposed and they plan to wed next summer. My DH and I were wondering if the book had anything to do with the timing of his proposal.</p>
<p>WOW moonchild, lol and Congrats. I would love to know what the next book you pass along will be :).</p>