The article explores one of the significant problems for the formation of the innovative potential of young professionals – the influence of the educational environment on the processes of professional socialization, on the "designing" of the professional personality. The authors' conclusions are based on a secondary analysis of the materials of the survey of practicing engineers of three regional industrial enterprises. To assess the impact of new approaches in the organization of the educational environment on the processes of professional socialization of young technical specialists, the materials of a pilot survey of bachelors studying in a practice-oriented (dual) program were used.