Chennai: A Tamil Nadu man’s inspiring journey from working as a security guard to becoming a software engineer at Zoho has captured hearts across India, going viral on LinkedIn. Abdul Alim’s story highlights resilience, self-learning, and the transformative power of mentorship.
Early struggles
Alim left home in 2013 with just ₹1,000, spending ₹800 on a train ticket. With no job or shelter, he spent nearly two months on the streets before securing a position as a security guard at Zoho’s office. Despite only having studied up to Class 10 and possessing basic HTML knowledge, he showed a remarkable curiosity to learn.
Mentorship and learning
During one of his 12-hour shifts, senior Zoho employee Shibu Alexis noticed Alim’s potential. “He asked my name and said, ‘Alim, I can see something in your eyes,’” Alim recalled. Alexis offered to mentor him, guiding him through programming lessons after long shifts.
Alim developed a simple app visualising user input, which Alexis shared with a Zoho manager. Impressed by his initiative, the manager invited him for an interview. Despite concerns about lacking a college degree, Alim was reassured: “At Zoho, you don’t need a college degree. What matters is you and your skills.”
Career growth
Alim successfully cleared the interview and joined Zoho as a developer. Eight years later, he continues to work as a software development engineer, expressing gratitude: “I want to thank Shibu Alexis for all the knowledge and lessons and Zoho for allowing me to prove myself. It is never too late to start learning.”
Public response
Social media users lauded Alim’s grit and Zoho’s merit-based culture, celebrating how mentorship, self-belief, and perseverance can change lives. His journey serves as a powerful reminder that determination and learning can open doors, even against the odds.