The article is devoted to the role of initiation in the formation of meaningful characteristics of the readiness of future journalists for professional activity. As part of studying at the university, it is necessary to start introducing students to the profession as early as possible, so that by the time they enter their first internship they will have gained experience working in a team and can create high-quality content in a given time. Currently, the content characteristics of readiness for professional activity and the peculiarities of its formation at different stages of study at the university remain insufficiently studied. During the study, the methodology of A. P. Chernyavskaya “Professional readiness” and the statistical method “Student’s T-criterion” for dependent samples were used as diagnostic tools. The empirical data obtained show that the inclusion of initiation technology in educational and extracurricular activities makes it possible to achieve positive dynamics of the parameters of students’ readiness for professional activity at different stages of study at the university, provides immersion in the future profession, accelerates the process of socialization. Its potential can be used in career guidance and in the course of forming the readiness of students in other areas of preparation for professional activity.