This book analyzes the impact of out-of-school youths' first job experiences on later occupational attainment and job satisfaction, explores the effects of prior attitudes and status, and charts the varying career paths of white males, white females, black males, and black females. It also interprets the findings in light of public policy implications for job training and employment programs. Chapter 1 introduces the problem and sets up a core model for research on the early, middle, and late periods of youths' early careers. Chapter 2 reviews the youth career literatures and notes research that should yet be done. Chapter 3 provides research methods for analysis of early youth careers, notes variables, and suggests methods of analysis. Chapter 4 reports results obtained by the various methods, with information on the effects of sex, race, education, socioeconomic status, disadvantaged background, age, urbanization, job level, and tenure. Chapter 5 summarizes findings of the study and presents recommendations for public policy. Appendixes include tables of regression analyses for various core models, tables of variables, and references. (KC)