At the age of 17, many Lyceum students in Cyprus are beginning to think seriously about their future. It’s an exciting stage of life, but it can also feel overwhelming. Parents naturally want the best for their children, teachers focus on exam performance, and peers may follow popular routes such as law, IT, or family traditions. With so much input, it’s normal for teenagers to feel uncertain about what’s right for them.
The problem in Cyprus is that too many young people choose a subject to study, graduate, come back and then realise they don’t like it or can’t find a job in that field. Years lost, energy wasted, frustration all around.
The encouraging news is this; uncertainty is not a setback, it’s an opportunity. At GRS Recruitment, we see every year how the right guidance can help young people make choices that align with their strengths and Cyprus’ evolving job market.
Why Guidance Feels So Scarce in Cyprus
Cyprus’ education system is strong at preparing students academically, but career guidance often takes a back seat. While counselling services exist, not all families know how to make the most of them.
On top of that, parents often lean on tradition. For example, they might say “Take over the family business” or “Be a lawyer/doctor/accountant, it’s safe”, which come from a place of care but doesn’t always reflect where the world of work is heading.
The reality is that Cyprus’ economy is diversifying. Opportunities are opening in technology, green energy, shipping, and compliance. With the right approach, students can make choices that feel both personal and future oriented.
Start with Passions, Not Job Titles
The biggest psychological trap is to ask a 16-year-old to pick a single job title for life. No wonder they feel paralysed.
Instead of asking “What job do you want?”, it’s more useful to ask, “What kind of problems excite you to solve?”
Technology, sustainability, helping others, or working with numbers, these sparks can guide students far better than picking a single job label.
Look Beyond Trends, Check the Data
It’s easy to chase “hot jobs,” but real growth lies in long-term shifts:
- Digital & IT: Software, cybersecurity, and data jobs are steadily growing in Cyprus and across Europe.
- Green Energy: Solar power, storage, and efficiency roles are expanding as Cyprus transitions toward renewables.
- Maritime & Shipping: Cyprus is still one of the world’s largest shipping hubs, creating demand for compliance officers, engineers, and ESG specialists.
- Healthcare & Care Services: With an ageing population, nurses and health professionals are more important than ever.
- Professional & Financial Services: Compliance, AML/KYC, and fund administration remain strong areas.
These are durable opportunities shaping Cyprus’ future.
Use Tools That Match Strengths to Careers
Students don’t need to guess. There are free European tools that make things clearer, such as Europass Profile, where teens can build a skills profile (even from hobbies or volunteering) and see what careers align, and ESCO Database which lets you explore different professions, what skills they require, and which ones overlap.
This helps students see how transferable their abilities really are. A student good at communication and organisation might succeed not only in teaching, but also in marketing or HR.
Test Before You Commit
With over 20 years of experience as a recruitment agency, we can confidently say that one of the most costly mistakes is choosing a degree without first exploring the field.
Therefore, we suggest teens try:
- Mini-projects: Coding a small app, shadowing a shipping compliance officer, helping a cousin with a solar installation.
- Short online courses: Many platforms offer beginner-friendly introductions to fields like data analytics or sustainable tourism.
- Summer placements: Even two weeks in an office can reveal if the job feels exciting or exhausting.
Even two weeks of hands-on experience can give more clarity than months of guesswork.
Parents, Support Without Pressure
Parents play a vital role in guiding decisions. The key is to support exploration without pushing too hard:
- Ask about interests and values, not just grades.
- Support experiments, even if they don’t lead to a clear decision right away.
- Use your network to arrange job-shadowing, a single real-world experience is worth a hundred classroom talks.
- Encourage a “two-bet plan”: a main study choice + a close alternative that uses similar skills.
This keeps options open and reduces pressure.
The Family Business Dilemma
Many Cypriot families naturally want children to continue the family business. That’s understandable but it doesn’t have to be limiting. Continuing the family business can still be a powerful option, when reframed.
- A retail shop teaches sales and customer service → these skills transfer to CRM or digital marketing.
- A workshop teaches hands-on technical work → transferable to solar installation or energy efficiency.
- A small office teaches bookkeeping → transferable to compliance or financial services.
It’s not about rejecting tradition, but about expanding it into future-proof opportunities.
Choices That Grow With You
The truth is no one expects a 17-year-old to have their entire future mapped out. What matters is starting with passions, understanding where the job market is heading, and testing interests in real-world ways.
At GRS Recruitment, we believe every young person deserves to study something they enjoy and then return to Cyprus to find opportunities in that field. The best careers are not chosen under pressure or by chasing short-term trends. They are built step by step, in alignment with both personal strengths and the Cyprus of tomorrow.