The emerging information-oriented, high-skills occupational society is rapidly expanding. This book, written for parents and their children, is intended to help young people through the daunting process of deciding what they want to be when they grow up. Presented in four parts, the volume opens with a discussion of the new realities, such as technology and the global economy, population and labor force trends, parental influences, and inequities in the workplace. In part two, occupations are discussed along with strategies for making work a part of a total lifestyle. Some of the issues addressed here include tomorrow's jobs and where to find occupational information. Part three presents a step-by-step process for young people who plan to attend a four-year college or university. It is intended to help high school students and their parents understand the basic differences among various forms of higher education. The last section discusses career preparation in depth and explores the different strategies--vocational education, apprenticeships, civil service, and military service--that young people should investigate. The chapter suggests that students and their parents should consider all kinds of postsecondary education when making career plans. (RJM)