The recession and the tough job market have been a slap in the face for recent college graduates looking for careers.

An Associated Press/MTVU survey shows that 32 percent of college graduates say they are stressed out about finances and worry that their parents may be laid off.

Some have resorted to menial labor despite having college degrees.

“It’s harder than you might think,” said Ellese Laner, who just graduated from Metro State College with a Bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. “I was just like so excited like yeah, I'm graduating and then it just hit me like, now what do I do? I don't have any job options, I haven't heard back from anything.”

Laner is barely paying her bills working at a shoe store one day a week.

Nisreen Alami graduated from the University of Colorado, Denver, with a finance degree in December. She is living with her parents and working at the gas station they own while she looks for what she calls a “real” job.

“If I have to work as a babysitter or something easier that doesn't require a degree, absolutely, if it comes to that point,” said Alami.

Alami posted her resume on Craigslist and said she has also used Monster, HotJobs, and CareerBuilder. Other desperate grads have taken to begging for jobs on Craigslist. One posting read: “Experienced, Intelligent and Punctual College Grad Needs work ANYWHERE…Please, for the love of God, give me a job!”

Despite the desperation, the job outlook is not promising. A study from the National Association of Colleges and Educators showed that employers plan to hire 22 percent fewer graduates from the class of 2009 than they did from the class of 2008.