What do 20-somethings want?

The answer: It depends on whom you ask. A parent with a college grad "boomerang baby" living in the basement will have a different answer than will the manager of research and development at a thriving tech company. Some will praise the best qualities of this generation while others will be less than complimentary.

Society loves to label its generational cohorts. There were the Gen X's or "slackers," and the Gen Y's, or "millennials." So when, in 2005, an AP article labeled 20-somethings "the Entitlement Generation," the moniker made the rounds of academic and business circles, eliciting a furious clash of opinion as to whether this label is deserved.

Nicholas Aretakis is a career consultant who works with 20-somethings every day. His answer to the question of what 20-somethings want is simple -- it's what we all want. In his book "No More Ramen: the 20-something's Real World Survival Guide," Aretakis breaks it down to four qualities that make up a balanced life: freedom, accomplishment, money, and enjoyment.

Aretakis wrote his award-winning book over the course of year with the input of some 200 young people interviewed on college campuses across the United States, including Arizona State University. His Web site, nomoreramen.com, contains a resources toolkit and Q&A for those who wish to further explore topics introduced in the book.

Addressing the tough issues

The author was impressed with the consistency of opinion among 20-somethings about what they want out of life. He also noted these desires were virtually identical to his own at 20. Getting by on a diet of ramen noodles, Aretakis recalls hungering "to find my place in the world. I wanted to get started in life, whatever that life would be. I wanted to find friends in new places, and just find my way around. I was losing my naiveté but trying to keep my sanity.

"And it was when I realized that I had to make it to work on time, even if I was partying the night before."

Bingo!

This book doesn't gloss over the tough stuff. Chapter titles include "I'm So Confused," "I Don't Know Jack About Money," "I'm Not Getting Ahead, Help!" and "I Have to Get a Grip on the Day to Day." It makes clear that, while it's true that life can be confusing and even terrifying to those starting, there is only one way to go, and that is forward. Aretakis may empathize with his readers, but he tells them it's time to step up and get going.

It's not just a pep talk -- Aretakis offers concrete advice for every step along that road to success and a balanced life. Resumes, job interviews, career strategizing, workplace ethics and etiquette, self-assessment all are covered well in a down-to-earth, engaging narrative style. The author answers questions about common dilemmas -- "How often will I get a raise? How much should I expect?" -- with concise and reasoned explanations.

Entitlement vs. commitment

Aretakis's book seems to lean slightly toward college grads who are planning careers in the business world (which makes sense, as this is where he found his personal success). He barely touches on the situations of those of a more altruistic inclination, except to remind them that they will need to become very good at budgeting if they plan a career in, for example, social work.

The author takes a conventional hard-line stance in the case of the 20-something who asks if it's OK to move back in with his parents. ("Yes, as long as it's temporary and you have a good plan for getting back on your feet.")

Nowhere does Aretakis directly confront the controversial "Entitlement Generation" label, but he does issue warnings to those 20-somethings who expect too much success too soon. The author reminds us that this generation grew up watching the dot-com bubble and instant millionaires under age 30. They dreamed of a time when they'd go out and tackle the world, become famous and retire at 45. "The hard pill to swallow about those dot-com bubble years is that they were an anomaly," he notes.

"The reality is that no matter how technology changes the way we work, we still have to work for the prize. And that takes time -- years, maybe even decades, depending on how high you set the bar for yourself."

Dream. Plan. Execute.

Most of us are good at conjuring up dreams. Some of us go as far as setting goals. But neither does any good unless you are willing to commit to a plan, says Aretakis. Asking his readers to be honest, he poses these questions:

1. How long are you willing to slog it out on the front lines?
2. How many hours per week are you willing to work?
3. How much personal time are you willing to sacrifice?
4. How willing are you to persevere?

"If your answers to questions like these don't mesh with the demands of the work required to get you where you want to be, either you do have an issue with entitlement or you haven't arrived at the right goals for yourself, because you're not willing to commit to doing what it takes to get there," says Aretakis. "Sorry, those are the hard facts."

That's about the harshest tone you'll find in this book, because Aretakis seems to genuinely like his subjects, and is rooting for their success. He wants them to be optimistic and aim for the stars. After all, he can point to himself as one of those who entered the working world with dreams, goals and a plan. It worked for him: Aretakis stuck to his plan and became a millionaire at 30. Now he can afford to do what he likes, which is work with 20-somethings, helping them find their paths in life.

For this reason, "No More Ramen" is a great gift idea for a college graduate who may be long on dreams and short on practical advice. For that matter, it just may be a good gift for anyone, regardless of age, who hasn't quite found their way in the working world.

Bottom line:

Some words of advice from Nickolas Aretakis in "No More Ramen":

• "Just because you choose to go to work doesn't mean you have to become a working stiff."
• "Instead of sweating over 'What do I want to do with my life?', skip ahead to what your life will look like when you are successfully doing it. Then the better question to start with is 'What do I want from life?'"
• "Everyone, at one point or another, fears failure. But you press on anyway. Fact is, you will fail at certain times in your career -- especially in the beginning. But that doesn't mean you'll wind up washing windshields. Failure leads to learning leads to more opportunities for success."
• "If, in the end, you decide to prioritize the fun over the money, just realize it's a choice you're making and figure out a way to supplement your short- and long-term savings, because, let's face it, in the real world, we're all on our own."