A study of adaptation to work as both a process and an outcome was conducted. The study was conducted by personal interview that probed adaptation with respect to work's organizational, performance, interpersonal, responsibility, and affective aspects; and by questionnaire using the same aspects. The population studied consisted of persons without a college degree, aged seventeen to thirty, and recently employed at a new job. About one-third were at their first full time job, and two-thirds had received vocational training. Data were analyzed by both descriptive and rigorous methods. The results of the study suggest that, for those who adapt successfully, a hierarchy or sequence of adjustments may be involved which may be explained in terms of the five aspects of work selected as the basis of analysis. The worker initially concentrates on job performance skills, then begins to adapt to co-workers, adapts to the organization, and creates interpersonal relationships with peers. The study's findings point to the importance of employers defining their expectations of new employees with respect to their performance, role in the organization, sources of information, and relations to supervision; the findings also point to the importance of preparing students to have realistic expectations of the workplace. Recommendations include replication of the study using validated adaptation measurement instruments and subjects more representative of the general population. (KC)