摘要:The article presents the results of a survey of municipal employees in rural areas of the Stavropol Territory. The purpose of the study was to determine the important professional attributes (characteristics) of young professionals who come to the ranks of the municipal service in rural areas of the region. In total, 247 municipal employees from 10 municipal districts of the Stavropol Territory took part in the expert survey. Comparisons of the views of young specialists and specialists with more than 10 years of work experience in the municipal service show significant differences in the set of important professional attributes formed during the period of study at the university. The characteristics are the starting point during the period of professional socialization directly to the position of a municipal employee. According to municipal employees with up to 5 years of service, the key professional attributes should be willingness to reproduce professional status-role relationships; readiness to perform a professional function – the development and adoption of management decisions; willingness and participation in innovation in the workplace. According to municipal employees with over 10 years of experience, the key professional attributes are the willingness to adequately respond to the requirements of the professional environment; informational and functional readiness for professional development.