They have been called unflattering names such as the "Entitlement Generation" or "Generation Me," but young people seeking jobs these days may have a new name: Realistic.

Often known as Generation Y, these young people for years have turned companies and recruiters inside out as they demanded jobs for more pay and more opportunities. With their technology skills and great social networking abilities, GenY (born roughly between 1980 and 2003) previously have found employers willing to meet their expectations.

But then the recession hit and unemployment soared to more than 10 percent. Like the rest of job hunters, Generation Y has found jobs can be tough to come by, even with their skills. That has caused what some might term an attitude adjustment.

"This is now a more grown-up generation," says Dan Finnigan, CEO of Jobvite.

Finnigan says recruiters, who often called young job seekers "challenging," now say GenY job candidates are willing to compromise on salaries or job duties.

A Jobvite survey found that before the recession, more than 60 percent of GenY candidates wanted a higher compensation than offered. Today, more than 50 percent of candidates say they will take the salary offered. Further, now almost one-third of applicants are trying to get jobs below their skills level, a jump of 25 percent from the pre-recession level.

"Employers just don't have the time or patience for a generation that is so picky," Finnigan says. "This generation is not pushing back as much as they did before."

The National Association of Colleges and Employers, an organization of career counselors, says that employers will hire 22 percent fewer college graduates than last year. The question is whether the tough times being experienced now by this younger generation will forever change their attitudes — or be just a momentary blip in their career plans.

"This generation of workers is still highly desirable because of their skills in technology and their (social media) connections," Finnigan says. "Employers are always going to need new blood, and that's not going to change. But do they (GenY) have less of an attitude? Yes. And that's a good thing."

That "attitude" is what often has driven a generational wedge between workers. Some older workers see the young employees as wanting advancement and opportunities too quickly without paying their dues. Some younger workers see practices in today's workplace as outdated and ineffective.