From security guard to software engineer: How Abdul Alim built a career at Zoho without a college degree
For millions of Indian students, the dream is simple: score well in Class 12, crack an entrance exam, earn a B.Tech degree and land a software job. Abdul Alim’s journey took a completely different route. He never went to college. He studied only till Class 10. Yet today, after more than a decade at Zoho Corporation, he serves as a Member of Technical Staff—proof that skills, curiosity and the right mentor can sometimes open doors that degrees cannot.In India, conversations around careers often revolve around engineering colleges, entrance examinations and campus placements. Every year, lakhs of students spend months preparing for JEE, hoping that an engineering degree will eventually lead them to a software job.But every once in a while, a story comes along that reminds us there is more than one road to success.Abdul Alim’s journey is one such story.Today, he is a Member of Technical Staff at Zoho Corporation, where he has completed more than 12 years. Yet when he first entered the company in 2013, he wasn’t carrying a laptop or joining as an engineer.He was guarding the entrance.He left home with just Rs 1,000After completing Class 10, Alim decided to leave home in search of work.According to a LinkedIn post in which he shared his story, he had only Rs 1,000 with him. Nearly Rs 800 went towards a train ticket. The remaining money disappeared quickly, and for almost two months he struggled before finally finding employment as a security guard at Zoho.For many, getting a stable job would have been the end of the journey.For Alim, it became the beginning.
One conversation changed everything
While working long security shifts, Alim caught the attention of a senior employee named Shibu Alexis.Instead of simply greeting him in passing, the employee asked about his education and whether he knew anything about computers.Alim mentioned that he had learnt a little HTML during school.That brief conversation changed the course of his life.The senior employee offered to teach him programming.
Learning after a 12-hour shift
The arrangement was far from easy.After completing a 12-hour security duty every day, Alim stayed back to learn coding.There was no engineering classroom, no coaching institute and no formal degree programme.Instead, there was curiosity, consistency and a mentor willing to invest time in someone who wanted to learn.Months of practice gradually turned into confidence.Around eight months later, Alim built a small application that accepted user inputs and displayed them visually.It wasn’t a large commercial product.But it demonstrated something far more important—his ability to learn.
The interview he never thought he would get
Impressed by the application, the senior employee showed it to his manager and asked whether Alim could be interviewed for a technical role.Alim later admitted that he never imagined such an opportunity would come his way.He had not attended college.He held no engineering degree.Like many young people, he believed that alone would prevent him from becoming a software engineer.Instead, he was told something he still remembers:“At Zoho, you don’t need a college degree. What matters is you and your skills.”He appeared for the interview.He cleared it.And his career changed forever.
From security desk to software development
In 2014, Alim joined Zoho’s technical team as an Engineering Trainee.Over the years, he continued learning, growing and contributing to product development.Today, he serves as a Member of Technical Staff and has spent more than a decade building software at the same company where he once worked as a security guard.His journey also reflects Zoho’s long-standing emphasis on skill-based hiring through initiatives such as Zoho Schools of Learning, which focus on practical ability rather than academic credentials alone.
Lessons for students
Alim’s story is not an argument against formal education. For many careers, college remains essential.But it does highlight an important reality of today’s technology industry: practical skills, continuous learning and problem-solving ability are becoming increasingly valuable alongside academic qualifications.For students, especially those who may feel discouraged by setbacks in board examinations or competitive entrance tests, his journey offers a different perspective.A single exam does not define an entire career.Learning can begin anywhere.Sometimes it begins in a classroom.Sometimes it begins after a 12-hour shift at a security desk.And sometimes, all it takes is one person who sees potential before you see it yourself.Disclaimer: This article is based on information shared by the individual on LinkedIn, publicly available professional profiles, and other publicly accessible sources. Personal experiences and claims are presented as shared by the individual and have not been independently verified by The Times of India.
