On paper, the story should have been straightforward; a South African graduate works hard, obtains their qualification, and steps into the job market.
But like many young people leaving university, Mpho Mashele quickly realised that a degree does not automatically open doors. The transition from classroom to workplace turned out to be far more complex and far more competitive than expected.
His experience reflects that of many South African graduates navigating the same reality, as the country produces thousands of graduates each year while youth unemployment remains above 30% among those aged 15 to 34. The challenge is not just about education, but what happens after it.
Today, Mashele serves as Head of Alumni Engagement at Emeris, where he works closely with graduates, employers, and internal teams to strengthen the link between education and the world of work. With over 17 years of experience in stakeholder relations, strategy, and alumni engagement, he now operates from both sides of the system as a former graduate and as someone actively shaping graduate outcomes.
“Employers are no longer only looking at what qualification a candidate has,” says Mashele. “They want to see whether graduates can apply what they have learned in real working environments, solve problems, and adapt to change from day one.”
The changing landscape of entry-level roles
Across industries, artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping the kinds of roles that once served as entry points for young graduates. Tasks that were previously assigned to junior employees are increasingly being automated, leaving fewer traditional “starting points” for graduates to ease into the workplace.
At the same time, employer expectations have risen. Graduates are increasingly expected to contribute from day one and not simply learn on the job. This has created what many in education and industry describe as a “skills mismatch,” the gap between what is taught and what is needed in the workplace.
Francine Mashabela, Career Services Manager at Emeris says this gap is visible in how employers assess candidates today, with a clear demand for real-world experience and key skills such as adaptability, creative thinking, and technological skills, which have become increasingly critical in the evolving workplace.
Mashele agrees, adding that exposure to practical learning changes how students think and respond to challenges. “Once you expose students to real-world scenarios, something shifts,” he says. “They stop seeing problems as theory and start seeing them as things they can solve. That builds confidence in a way that lectures alone cannot.”
Building the bridge between learning and work
This is where higher education providers can play a critical role, not only in teaching content, but in shaping how students engage with the working world.
For example, his work involves connecting alumni, students, and employers to help create better pathways into the world of work. His daily tasks include collaborating with different stakeholders, developing strategies, and creating opportunities for mentorship and career growth. The most important skills he uses from his studies are communication and critical thinking, which help him work with diverse groups of people and turn complex ideas into simple, practical solutions.
What graduates should start and stop doing
From his experience working closely with students and alumni, Mashele has seen clear patterns in what helps graduates succeed and what holds them back.
One of the most common mistakes, he says, is treating a CV as a full record of everything they have done instead of a targeted tool for opportunity.
Successful graduates, he notes, tend to:
- Tailor their CVs to specific roles rather than using a generic version
- Show willingness to learn instead of pretending to know everything
- Treat early roles as opportunities to build credibility
At the same time, he says graduates should avoid:
- Waiting until they feel completely ready before applying for opportunities
- Underestimating the importance of soft skills
- Assuming that a qualification alone is enough to stand out
“While the challenge of graduate unemployment in South Africa is complex, when education is paired with real-world experience, graduates are not simply better prepared, they are more capable, and far more likely to turn opportunity into progress” concludes Mashabela.
