Beyond #KaburAjaDulu : Unveiling career adaptability in the real stories of Indonesian migrant workers

Sildi Mega Puspa (Department of Management, Faculty of Economics, University of Garut)
Soviyan Munawar (Department of Management, Faculty of Economics, University of Garut)
Imas Purnamasari (Department of Management, Faculty of Economics, University of Garut)

Journal of Management - Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's)
Vol 19 No 3 (2026): JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's)

This study aims to describe the meaning of the career adaptability experience of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) abroad and to identify the experiences and strategies that can serve as lessons for the younger generation considering overseas employment amid the #KaburAjaDulu phenomenon. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used, involving five PMI working in South Korea, Japan, Germany, Australia, and the United States, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, documentation, and literature review, and analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. The findings show that career adaptability is influenced by the ability to adjust to job demands, environmental support, prior experiences, and coping strategies. This study concludes that working abroad for a better economic life requires psychosocial readiness, language proficiency, cultural understanding, and careful planning. Keywords: Career Adaptability; Indonesian Migrant Workers; #KaburAjaDulu