Reform of the Russian system of professional education laid the foundation for solving problems of excess professional personnel with higher education, reducing the number of students of vocational educational organizations, employment of graduates out of accordance with their specialty. These problems are clearly shown in regional level, specifically in the Sverdlovsk region. Research of professional orientations of students of educational organizations of secondary vocational education of the Sverdlovsk region was conducted in 2012–2013 due to the necessity of studying professional orientations of students expressed by the public authorities in the field of education of the Sverdlovsk region. Particular attention was paid to the analysis of representations of students about their future employment prospects. It was found that one in three student is not satisfied with their chosen profession and (or) the educational institution. Most of the students of vocational educational organizations do not have a job and employed students – work out of accordance with their specialty. Students in choosing the educational organization of secondary vocational education paid attention to the interest in the profession, the prospects of getting a good job, the prestige of the educational institution. After graduation, students intend to find a job in accordance with their specialty, to earn substantial wage and to achieve a high level of professionalism, recognition and respect. Students are sure that finding a job in accordance with their education is not easy. That is why they wish to get a job at the place of practical training. In addition, students, relying on its own initiative, intend to find a job through the Internet, sending out resumes to organizations. The study showed incomplete representations of students about modern methods of employment (erroneous opinion about a distribution of graduates), which suggests the need to improve career guidance activities in schools and colleges.