by Xiewen Qian and MankeunYoon
ABSTRACT
This research examines the phenomenon of over education in entry-level roles within a global supermarket chain, particularly as it relates to the organization’s expansion program. As tertiary education has expanded globally, an increasing number of graduates face underemployment, with highly qualified individuals working in low-skill retail positions. Based on a qualitative research approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six overqualified employees to get insights from them about the research objectives concerning job satisfaction, job skills, promotion prospects, and work teams. Major themes identified were constraint due to lack of challenges to tap into, restricted career mobility, and lack of social interaction with colleagues. They complained about the repetitive mundane work and perceived the job as being temporary, therefore having high turnover intentions. As outlined by Human Capital Theory and Person-Job Fit Theory, this study reveals the mismatch between the qualifications possessed by the employees and the requirements of the positions held. Some of the recommendations suggested in the context of overeducating include identifying career lattice opportunities, providing job enlargement possibilities, and advancing equal employment opportunities. Thus, understanding and optimally applying overqualified employees could help organizations enhance staff satisfaction, presence, and performance. This study thus provides a theoretical contribution to the field of labor market and provides best practices for overqualified employees in retail.
