A 21-year-old Indian-origin university graduate has ignited a heated debate about Australia’s job market after revealing she was rejected for a retail assistant role at Coles Group.
Raksha Hegde, who is currently pursuing her master’s degree, said in her Instagram post that she applied for the part-time cashier position to support herself while studying but was stunned when her application was unsuccessful.
She questioned how years of higher education had not translated into even an entry-level job.
‘Bro, I just got rejected at Coles as a retail assistant. Basically a cashier!’ Hegde said in an Instagram video.
‘I’ve done a three-year degree, and doing my master’s and I can’t get a f***ing job. Are you telling me I went to uni for three years just to get rejected as a cashier?
‘And you know what? Let me get my master’s degree for two years and spend more money to get a degree so that I can’t find a single job after putting so much time, money and investment into school, uni and yet… Coles doesn’t want to hire me,” Hegde added.
‘Like are you f***ing kidding me? Is the job market so doomed?’
Hegde’s frustration quickly struck a chord, with the clip drawing tens of thousands of views and prompting a flood of responses from others facing similar struggles. Many commenters shared their own experiences of being rejected from retail roles despite holding degrees, with some suggesting that being overqualified can work against applicants in such positions.
Others pointed out that supermarket roles often prioritise availability, long-term commitment and attitude over formal education, arguing that employers may hesitate to hire candidates they believe will leave quickly for corporate opportunities.
The discussion has also highlighted broader concerns about underemployment among graduates, with some Australians questioning whether higher education is aligning with current job market realities.
According to Coles Group, retail assistant roles involve customer service, operating checkouts and maintaining store presentation, with pay rates starting from around $27 per hour.
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