Young professionals and recent graduates have struggled to find work in a sliding economy, but one area - Silicon Valley - has been relatively immune. Until now.

Silicon Valley companies that initially resisted the swooning of the economy are looking to cut costs and shed entry-level positions, and people in their 20s are finding a college degree is no longer their golden ticket to a dream job in high tech.

"I feel like I put in all the work (in school) to not have a job," said Jillian Crawford, 25, who has been looking for a marketing job with a tech company since she graduated with honors from San Jose State University in June.