This research explored the career beliefs of inner-city adolescents (N = 97). Results identified six types of beliefs: success is related to effort, job satisfaction, work interest and liking, flexibility/adaptability, achievement and persistence, and toleration of uncertainty. A majority of these young people believed that their success was not related to their efforts and had beliefs inconsistent with flexibility/adaptability. Findings are interpreted in light of Happenstance Learning Theory (Krumboltz 2009). (Contains 2 tables.)