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While many fresh graduates in their early twenties are busy chasing corporate dreams, Jerry, a Malaysian with a finance degree, chose a path less travelled.
At just 23 years old, instead of diving into the corporate world right after graduation, he packed his bags and headed to New Zealand for a working holiday — a decision that would end up changing his life.
Taking the ‘safe’ route
Jerry’s move to New Zealand wasn’t something he planned long in advance. In fact, it started off casually and almost impulsively.
Despite having a passion for video editing, he initially chose to study finance, not because he was interested in it, but because it seemed like the safe option.
“Honestly, I didn’t know what I wanted at the time,” he admitted. “I just thought finance could help me earn money and wouldn’t go wrong.”
Right after graduation, the thought of jumping straight into a 9-to-5 job didn’t appeal to him.
“I had a friend studying in New Zealand, and when I came across the working holiday visa, it felt like the perfect excuse to try something different. Since it was only for six months, I thought, ‘Why not?’”
“Little did I know that a short trip in New Zealand would eventually lead me to moving to Australia. The lifestyle, freedom, and experiences kept me going, even when things weren’t always easy,” he said.
Spending time in New Zealand
Jerry first landed in South Island, where he started off working on a farm.
From there, he gradually took on other jobs at factories, warehouses, and did all kinds of hands-on work across New Zealand.
Though the jobs were physically demanding, they offered him the freedom and space to reflect on life and figure out what he wanted next.
While most of Jerry’s jobs were labour-intensive, he said there was still a lot to learn, especially on a personal level.
A lot of it came from my own reflections. Even if it’s the same task every day, there’s always a way to do it more efficiently,” he shared.
He also mentioned that working abroad gave him insights into different work cultures.
Compared to what he was used to, Jerry found that jobs in New Zealand and Australia made him feel like an equal in the eyes of others.
“The entry barrier was low, but what stood out to me was how people respected each other regardless of what job you were doing. I never felt looked down upon.”
Jerry swapped office hours for flexible gigs, saving money and opening doors to experiences he never imagined.
“From busking and car camping to embracing stunning views in New Zealand, skipping the 9-5 after graduation has been one of my best life decisions yet.”
However, it was not without its challenges.
He recalled one particularly tough period when his car was broken into during a concert in Auckland, and he lost both his passport and laptop.
‘That’s when I realised I really needed to learn how to take care of myself,’ he said.
Anxiety and self-doubt
While Jerry was enjoying his working holiday life abroad, not everyone around him saw it the same way.
There were times when friends or relatives would ask things like, ‘Don’t you think this is selfish? Shouldn’t you be more responsible? Shouldn’t you be sending money home?’”
“At first, those comments made me question myself. After all, most people my age were building careers, climbing corporate ladders, and giving back financially to their families, while I was working odd jobs overseas, filming videos, and living inside my car.”
Jerry also clarified that he wasn’t relying on his family financially as he never took a single cent from them.
“I didn’t ask them for money. I was spending my own, earning my own, and trying to build something out of this experience,” he said.
To cope with the anxiety and self-doubt that came with choosing an unconventional path, Jerry often turned to conversations with others he met on the road, many of whom were Malaysians older than him.
“Most of them were in their late 20s or early 30s and had already spent years in the corporate world before feeling burnt out. That’s why they chose the working holiday route.
“I’d ask them, ‘Do you think I’m making the right choice?’ and over time, I learned to reconcile with myself, to accept that it’s okay to go at my own pace,” he said.
How much did he really save?
Jerry’s first six months in New Zealand weren’t exactly smooth sailing financially. After buying a car and spending on travel, he found himself losing money at one point.
Despite the high cost of travelling and buying a car to explore the country, Jerry still managed to save around RM30,000 during his time in New Zealand after deducting all his expenses.
He had travelled across the country, slept in his car, and worked multiple labour jobs — yet still came out with a solid amount of savings.
Jerry is currently on a working holiday in Australia, where he works at an airline meal prep facility earning around AUD30 (approximately RM84) per hour — a significant bump from the NZD22 (approximatelyRM56) per hour wage he used to earn in New Zealand.
This time around, he’s prioritising saving money over sightseeing, and plans to stay in Australia for two to three years before heading back to Malaysia.
‘Don’t overthink. Just go’
For those considering a similar path, Jerry’s advice is simple: follow your gut feeling and give yourself the space to explore.
Sometimes we overthink too much — worrying about whether we’re falling behind, or if we’re making the wrong choice. But these are just thoughts, not facts.”
He believes that even if things don’t go exactly as planned, there’s always something to learn along the way.
“Whether you find a job you love, meet people who inspire you, or simply figure out what you don’t want — it all adds up. You won’t know unless you try.”
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