"It really is as bad as the analysts say it is."

Those are the words of Charlie Cino (graduate-communications) who recently returned from the "real" world back to graduate school.

The income of today's generation of young Americans will unlikely exceed the income of their parents -- a discouraging statement for future University graduates.

Cino recalled several interviews in New York and Los Angeles with advertising firms, ABC and Lifetime Television.

"They liked my resume but there were simply no jobs available," Cino said.

Cino listed one of his reasons for returning to school as improving his skills and his resume.

When the job market tightens, businesses become more selective and look for higher credentials, said Ray Lombra, professor of economics.

But businesses aren't the only ones becoming harder to please.

"Our parents' generation was content on holding down one job for 40 years --today's generation will be shifting around more," said Tom Palisin (senior-economics), who put in time in the Career Development and Placement Center, 413 Boucke Building, in hopes of finding a job after his May graduation.

The "I can be anything I want to be" attitude of students during the 1980s has been put to rest by the decrease in our nation's technological growth, investment spending and population, Lombra said. This decline, along with other economic factors, are several reasons why this generation will face financial trouble, he added.

Lombra also attributed the current recession to the development of other countries.

"The United States' role in this globally integrating ecomomy has been eroded," Lombra said. "Japan and European countries have gained ground."

If he hopes to earn a higher salary than his parents, Palisin said he must search long and hard to find jobs that pay well. Palisin, who is considering graduate school, called his outlook very pessimistic.

In a time when graduating with a bachelor's degree may not be enough, more and more students share Palisin's perspective.

Lombra suggested that an undergraduate education may not provide students with the ability to think analytically and critically, but he admitted that graduate school is not the answer for everyone.

"If students didn't work as undergraduates then chances are they're not going to work as graduate students," Lombra said.

Jack Rayman, director of Career Development and Placement Services, said it's no secret that the job market is worsening, and he conveys that to the students he advises.

"Those occupations that are in lower demand normally are worse, and the technical degrees which are of a higher demand normally are lower also," Rayman said.

Compared to last fall, on-campus interviews conducted this fall were down 22.4 percent, or about 3,000, according to the Career Development and Placement Services statistics.

Paul Brown (senior-business logistics) is beginning to use the center in his job search. Along with Palisin, Brown's outlook is somewhat glum.

"I will get a job, just not a good-paying one," Brown sighed.