,HRBUS83 ASSIGNMENT 05 2026 DUE DATE:
OCTOBER 2026
Introduction
Finding a job after graduating is not always easy. Many young people spend years studying
and working towards a qualification, only to discover that employers also expect practical
experience, workplace skills and professional connections. This makes the move from
university into employment difficult, especially for graduates who have never had a full-
time job. Unemployment can also affect their finances, confidence, emotional well-being
and families.
Group D1 explored this problem through interviews with unemployed graduates, a rapid
review of existing literature, thematic analysis and triangulation. The findings were then
used to develop a Business Model Canvas (BMC) and an article for The Conversation, titled
“A Degree Is Not Always Enough: What Unemployed Graduates Are Telling Us About
Finding Work in South Africa” (Group D1, 2026). These activities helped the group look
beyond the general problem of unemployment and consider the specific difficulties
graduates experience when trying to enter the labour market.
The proposed venture aims to help unemployed graduates find relevant internships and
entry-level jobs while providing practical skills development, mentorship, career guidance
and links to employers. The idea is to make the transition from university into employment
easier by helping graduates gain useful experience and connect with businesses that need
entry-level workers.
In this reflection, I examine how the research influenced the proposed business model and
consider whether the concept could become a sustainable business. I discuss the problem
the venture aims to address, its value proposition, target market, competitors, revenue
model, startup needs and team requirements. I also consider how the venture relates to
Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) and the African Union's Agenda 2063.
, My view is that the venture has potential because it responds to a real problem identified
through the group's research. However, having a good idea is not enough to guarantee
success. The team must still show that employers and institutions are willing to pay for its
services, that graduates benefit from the support provided and that the business can cover
its costs over time.
1. Need Identification
The need for the proposed business became clearer through the interviews with
unemployed graduates. The findings showed that having a university qualification does not
automatically lead to employment. Participants described difficulties finding suitable jobs,
meeting employers' experience requirements and getting opportunities that matched their
qualifications. These experiences helped the group understand that graduate
unemployment is not simply about whether someone has studied hard enough. It is also
affected by the way employers recruit, the experience they expect and the opportunities
available to graduates (Group D1, 2026).
One of the main issues raised during the interviews was the lack of relevant work
experience. Graduates may have the correct qualification but still struggle to get a job
because they have not worked in a similar position before. This creates a frustrating
situation: graduates need experience to get hired, but they need an opportunity to gain
that experience in the first place. Research on unemployed graduates in South Africa has
also identified work experience, employment information and professional networks as
barriers to entering the labour market (Graham, Williams and Chisoro, 2019).
This finding had an important effect on the business idea. At first, it might seem that the
best solution would be to create a platform where graduates can search for vacancies.
However, making more job advertisements available would not necessarily solve the
problem if graduates still lacked the experience employers wanted. The business therefore
needs to do more than share vacancies. It should help graduates gain practical experience
and create stronger links with employers through internships, mentorship and entry-level
opportunities.
OCTOBER 2026
Introduction
Finding a job after graduating is not always easy. Many young people spend years studying
and working towards a qualification, only to discover that employers also expect practical
experience, workplace skills and professional connections. This makes the move from
university into employment difficult, especially for graduates who have never had a full-
time job. Unemployment can also affect their finances, confidence, emotional well-being
and families.
Group D1 explored this problem through interviews with unemployed graduates, a rapid
review of existing literature, thematic analysis and triangulation. The findings were then
used to develop a Business Model Canvas (BMC) and an article for The Conversation, titled
“A Degree Is Not Always Enough: What Unemployed Graduates Are Telling Us About
Finding Work in South Africa” (Group D1, 2026). These activities helped the group look
beyond the general problem of unemployment and consider the specific difficulties
graduates experience when trying to enter the labour market.
The proposed venture aims to help unemployed graduates find relevant internships and
entry-level jobs while providing practical skills development, mentorship, career guidance
and links to employers. The idea is to make the transition from university into employment
easier by helping graduates gain useful experience and connect with businesses that need
entry-level workers.
In this reflection, I examine how the research influenced the proposed business model and
consider whether the concept could become a sustainable business. I discuss the problem
the venture aims to address, its value proposition, target market, competitors, revenue
model, startup needs and team requirements. I also consider how the venture relates to
Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) and the African Union's Agenda 2063.
, My view is that the venture has potential because it responds to a real problem identified
through the group's research. However, having a good idea is not enough to guarantee
success. The team must still show that employers and institutions are willing to pay for its
services, that graduates benefit from the support provided and that the business can cover
its costs over time.
1. Need Identification
The need for the proposed business became clearer through the interviews with
unemployed graduates. The findings showed that having a university qualification does not
automatically lead to employment. Participants described difficulties finding suitable jobs,
meeting employers' experience requirements and getting opportunities that matched their
qualifications. These experiences helped the group understand that graduate
unemployment is not simply about whether someone has studied hard enough. It is also
affected by the way employers recruit, the experience they expect and the opportunities
available to graduates (Group D1, 2026).
One of the main issues raised during the interviews was the lack of relevant work
experience. Graduates may have the correct qualification but still struggle to get a job
because they have not worked in a similar position before. This creates a frustrating
situation: graduates need experience to get hired, but they need an opportunity to gain
that experience in the first place. Research on unemployed graduates in South Africa has
also identified work experience, employment information and professional networks as
barriers to entering the labour market (Graham, Williams and Chisoro, 2019).
This finding had an important effect on the business idea. At first, it might seem that the
best solution would be to create a platform where graduates can search for vacancies.
However, making more job advertisements available would not necessarily solve the
problem if graduates still lacked the experience employers wanted. The business therefore
needs to do more than share vacancies. It should help graduates gain practical experience
and create stronger links with employers through internships, mentorship and entry-level
opportunities.
