This report describes an inquiry into the work attitudes and career decision making skills of 754 sophomores in seven rural and one urban high school in Maine. The study is the first part of a planned 7-year longitudinal study that will interview these students again when they are seniors and then again 5 years later. The eight papers in the study, written by separate researchers, include reviews of the literature and analyses of the data found in the study together with thoughts and recommendations that should be considered when working with youth as well as adults in career transition. The papers included are the following: "Overview: Introduction to the Study" (Thompson); "Comments and Observations Regarding the Maine Work/Family Integration Study of 1987" (Hoyt); "The 1987 Employability and Work/Family Integration Survey: Introduction" (Freeman); "Aspirations of Rural Youth: A Review of the Research" (Cobb, MacBrayne); "Career Decision Making: Enhancing Life Work Options" (Ryan); "Career Interest Assessment in the Maine Employability and Work Family Integration Survey" (O'Shea); "Life/Work Management: Autonomy and Problem Solving" (Shannon); "Preparing Adolescents for Their Future Roles: Combining Work and Family" (Kimball); "Youth Transition: Work Maturity Basic to Employment Entry and Success" (Drier, Ciccone); "Job Seeking Skills: Preparing Youth for Change" (McCormac); and "Conclusions and Implications" (Freeman). Appendices include recommendations, the survey instrument, competency areas, and characteristics of participants. (KC)