Examining the transition from high school to the work place of third-year high school students in Japan who expected to assume jobs upon graduation, this study conducted interviews with placement counselors at four different schools: an urban public school with a general focus, an urban public high school with an industrial focus, and urban private high school with a general program, and a rural public high school with a general focus. The counselors discussed their relationship to the Public Employment Security Office (PESO) and their roles in conducting employment education, in surveying students concerning counseling needs, in organizing counseling room materials, in collecting and maintaining recruitment cards, in counseling students concerning employment choices, in finding available jobs for students, in practicing for interviews and entrance examinations, in maintaining contacts with prospective employers, and in finding second companies for students who failed on the first round of employment entrance examinations. Graduation and employment statistics for each of the schools were reviewed. Approximately 15 students from each of the 4 schools were interviewed about: finding jobs; counselor, teacher, and parent advice; company entrance examinations and their number; feelings about the new job; special skills required, salary, and fringe benefits; and outlook for their immediate and long-range future. Finally the study interviewed four former students about their jobs and inquired about the job's purpose, their progress on the job, special duties, and the appropriateness of the past curriculum for the present job. Sample company recruitment cards and a list of reference materials conclude the document. (JEH)