The purpose of the study was to identify significant aspects of the initial work experience through qualitative analysis of mini-essays on the theme: “Working situation that I could not manage. Working situation that I was able to cope. My conclusions”. Respondents — 5th year full-time students one of the Moscow higher educational institutions (29 women and 9 men), finishing a degree in “Management”. All respondents had the initial work experience (within the workplace practices, in public organizations, children’s summer camps, commercial structures, etc.). Analyzing only texts that were composed in strict accordance with instructions. Main results: 1) Principal issue of mini-essays was the personal aspects of business interaction (with superiors, colleagues, business partners, customers). 2) The central phenomenon was the relation between the “Self ” and the professional role, personal ability or inability focusing on work problems and psychologically distancing from the value judgments of partners in interaction. 3) Respondents` conclusions (final judgments) were of two kinds – related to “work situation» (the behavior throughout the conflict situation, a work adaptation, the image of the superior, internal resources for conflict resolution, the style of own behavior) and related to “personal growth” (relation between the “Self ” and the professional role, self-organization and self-regulation skills, value orientations).