While many university students spend their semester breaks resting or hanging out with friends, one Malaysian student has been busy building an impressive resume by trying out 20 different jobs since 2018.
At just 24 years old, Muhammad Syafiq Daniel Zulkarnain has already gained experience in a wide range of industries while continuing his degree studies.
Started working at 16 years old
Syafiq, who is from Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, said he first started working at the age of 16 as a catering crew member before later becoming a kitchen assistant.
Since then, he has taken on various jobs including warehouse worker, maintenance crew member, e-hailing rider, reserve army personnel, sales assistant, delivery worker, and industrial trainee at both a court and a bank.
Most recently, he has been working as a sales advisor at a sports apparel and equipment store.
Speaking to Harian Metro, Syafiq said he enjoys trying different jobs because he likes challenges and learning new things.
Family worried about e-hailing job
Although his family knows about his part time jobs and does not stop him from working while studying, Syafiq said they were especially worried when he worked as a p hailing rider due to the risk of accidents.
“They were only worried when I worked as an e-hailing rider because of the risk of getting into accidents. For the other jobs, there wasn’t any issue,” he said.
Syafiq is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Islamic Studies at Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin (UniSIRAJ) in Perlis.
According to him, he usually does not stay long at one workplace, with the longest period being around three months depending on his needs and semester break schedule.
Balancing work and university life
Syafiq shared that some of his friends often wonder how he manages to balance studying and working at the same time.
However, he said the many experiences he gained over the years have helped him adapt better to different situations.
“It’s definitely tiring, but when you’re young, you still have the energy to work, so I just push through.
“Those experiences are valuable, especially when you make mistakes because that’s how you learn to improve yourself,” he said.
He added that he currently follows the lecture schedule set by the university while adjusting his work schedule according to his employer’s arrangements.
While every job came with its own challenges, Syafiq described his experience serving as a reserve army personnel as the toughest role he has taken on so far.
He said the role demanded both strong mental and physical endurance.
At the same time, he described working as a sales assistant at a sports apparel store as one of his most enjoyable experiences because he enjoys helping customers and interacting with people.
Dreams of becoming an Islamic banking CEO
Looking ahead, Syafiq hopes all the experiences he has gained from working multiple jobs will help him face future challenges and competition more confidently.
He also revealed that he dreams of running his own business one day.
Apart from that, Syafiq shared that he hopes to eventually become the Chief Executive Officer of an Islamic banking company.
I hope that dream becomes a reality,” he said.
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