[6] As his father was a popular and renowned cleric, he expected his son to follow his way to become a preacher and forced him to enroll a Religious Teacher Education Program (forerunner of now Islamic University), but Zainudin resisted and caused him to flee home near the completion of his Senior High.

[1] During he took his second bachelor's degree, he became a realtor and joined Indonesian Real Estate Association and eventually became its vice general secretary.

He later joined and worked for various companies offering services in directorial and commissioner posts before eventually committed to the politics fulltime in 2001–2002.

[1][8] As a Golkar cadre, he was elected as congressman representing three electoral regions, Gorontalo (2004–2009), East Java VI (Kediri, Blitar, Tulungagung, Kediri City, and Blitar City) (2014–2019), and East Java XI (Bangkalan, Sampang, Pamekasan, and Sumenep) (2019–2024).

When he elected from East Java XI region, he briefly become Leader of the Golkar Faction in the People's Representative Council (DPR) for only one month, before being recruited by Joko Widodo as the Minister of Youth and Sports in his second administration.

[7][8] The intention to hold the National Conference (Munas) of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Archery Association (PB Perpani) on 19 December 2022, in Jakarta was appreciated and welcomed by Zainudin, Minister of Youth and Sports.