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The industry talk titled "More than a Degree: From IT Student to Full Stack Developer at Mercedes-Benz" was successfully conducted on 14th August 2026 at 9:00 AM at the DK ABA auditorium. Organized for approximately 250 first-year Degree IT students at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), the talk aimed to inspire the next generation of tech professionals. The session featured Althony Lim, a Full Stack Developer at Mercedes-Benz Tech Malaysia and an esteemed TAR UMT Bachelor of Information Technology (Distinction) alumnus, who also holds a Bachelor of Science from Campbell University (Distinction) and an MBA from INTI International University. Althony shared his professional journey, critical hiring processes, and invaluable life advice to motivate students to build technical competency and prepare comprehensively for the workforce early in their academic lives.
Drawing from over six to seven years of hands-on experience in the tech sector, Althony detailed his progressive career path. He began as an AI Intern at CIMB Niaga, where he automated and digitalized banking processes using advanced technologies like Python, OpenCV, and Flask. Transitioning to a Junior Software Engineer, Althony contributed to building complex software applications for the Malaysian Immigration Department. During this phase, he emphasized the importance of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and clean coding principles, specifically SOLID, DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself), and KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). His career trajectory later led him to serve as a Cloud Solution Engineer at Oracle, where he collaborated with world-class engineers in a multinational corporate culture, focusing intensely on cloud solutions. Currently a Full Stack Developer at Mercedes-Benz Tech Malaysia, Althony develops state-of-the-art software around luxury customer experiences and connected cars, utilizing a robust tech stack including Go, Java, Vue JS, Docker, Kubernetes, and Azure DevOps.
Addressing the highly competitive landscape of the tech sector, Althony provided practical insights into industry hiring practices. He walked students through the typical multi-stage hiring pipeline, which begins with CV screening and phone interviews, followed by strict technical tests like the Codility exam, and final face-to-face evaluation with hiring managers. He advised students to tailor their CVs to specific job descriptions, keeping them concise at a single page. To excel in technical tests, Althony strongly recommended practicing on LeetCode and advised against over-reliance on AI generators. He highlighted that top-tier employers look for a balanced blend of technical competency, a strong willingness to learn, critical thinking, problem-solving, and positive interpersonal attributes, including communication, teamwork, and leadership potential.
The core of Althony’s advice centered on active student engagement, which ignited an enthusiastic response from the first-year IT cohort. He presented five pivotal guidelines to survive and excel in university life: Be Proactive, consistency, independent thinking, T-Shaped learning, and finding one’s calling. Under the banner of being proactive, Althony strongly urged the students to start
building their professional profiles—such as LinkedIn, GitHub, and personal side projects—starting from their very first year. This year-one profile development is crucial to making students stand out to potential recruiters long before graduation. The students responded with immense encouragement, finding themselves highly motivated to aggressively pursue both the academic knowledge and the practical, industry-aligned IT skills required in their coursework.
In addition to technical mastery, Althony placed high emphasis on holistic student well-being. He introduced the concept of IKIGAI, encouraging students to discover a balance among what they love, what they are good at, what the world needs, and what they can be paid for. By focusing on physical and mental well-being alongside technical learning, students ensure they are fully equipped and resilient before they graduate and enter the high-stakes tech workforce. The talk concluded with an inspiring closing message: 'Potential is the gift within you, Passion is the fire that drives you, and Purpose is the impact you leave behind. When these three align, you won't just build a career—you'll build a life that truly matters.' The event left a profound impact on the attendees, reinforcing TAR UMT's ongoing commitment to holistic student development, academic excellence, and superior graduate employability.
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