A field survey examined the vocational guidance needs of two groups of people 25 years or younger in France: youths undergoing initial training in vocational-technical education (VTE) and young job seekers who are potential candidates for achieving level V vocational qualifications. Interviews were conducted with youths from two different regions that have suffered losses of industrial jobs: Haute-Normandie and Lorraine. Students enrolled in VTE were generally dissatisfied with available guidance services and used them as little as possible. It was recommended that existing services for VTE students be rooted more strongly in real life and focus on helping them find work that will enrich them financially and/or personally. The young job seekers had mixed reactions toward available guidance services. Vocational guidance appeared to be keeping most young unqualified job seekers in a position of exclusion that reinforced their low self-image. The need for services to help students and young job seekers achieve geographic and social mobility was emphasized. Appendices include a list of target groups analyzed in this and related European Community member state studies and information about France's secondary-level VTE training streams and 5-year law regarding VTE. (Contains 11 tables and 74 references.) (MN)