The article presents the results of a comparative historical study of the age and sociocultural characteristics of professional attitudes among modern and young students and their peers in the late 20th century. It is shown that the personal attitude to the situation of professional choice of modern high school and college students is characterized by high self-esteem and selfconfidence, unlike their peers of the 1980s. which were less determined and more dependent on external factors. Gender changes in attitudes towards the situation of professional choice have been identified.