Early careers at ServiceNow: Culture and opportunity for advancement

Ask any college student, “What attracts you to companies in today’s environment?” Two responses will almost certainly rank near the top: culture and opportunity for career development.

We spoke about these topics with several early-in-career employees who came through the ServiceNow intern program and decided to join the company full time.

[Explore early careers at ServiceNow.]

Culture is the key to commitment

Harini C., a software engineer, joined ServiceNow one year ago after interning for five months. She says the open, “every voice matters” type of environment was a compelling selling point—and continues to be a major part of her daily work.

“I have always believed the greatest asset of a company is its people, and my colleagues and seniors have been nothing less than a support system, both professionally and personally,” she points out. “We are encouraged to contribute any ideas—no matter how stupid or impactful we feel about them. At the end of the day, all we do is learn together as a team.”

Harini describes the culture as a perfect blend of creative thinking, knowledge, fun, and growth. The same rings true for fellow software engineer Prasanthi P. She believes the open, two-way communication leads to a more comfortable working environment. The result: greater performance and results.

“Your inputs are always valued—whether you are an intern or full-time employee,” Prasanthi says. “Transparency is the key. You are valued for what you do, and there are no proxies.”

Business Systems Analyst Mica A. was attracted to what she calls ServiceNow’s high-performance yet family-type climate.

“There is definitely that work-hard, play-hard culture here that a lot of tech companies in the Bay Area try to emphasize,” she notes. “But at ServiceNow, everyone wins as a team. It’s a family atmosphere in which any employee can ask any other employee for help with anything—without feeling intimidated.”

Opportunities for advancement

Adam S., inbound product manager, says the promise of career growth played a role in his joining the company full time.

“ServiceNow feels like a true meritocracy, where opportunities and recognition come when you are ready for it, regardless of where you are in your career,” he explains. “I have loved my role so far and see way more avenues for growth than I had imagined.”

How can ServiceNow promise these opportunities? Product Manager Srikar B. points to the expectation that every employee takes ownership of their projects. This increases their responsibility and accountability, he says, resulting in a higher degree of motivation.

“At ServiceNow, you don’t need to be in a leadership position to drive projects or initiatives,” he adds. “This culture provides the impetus to develop passion toward your work. Over a period of time, this quality inherently builds leadership skills. Career growth is taken very seriously here.”

If you get a sense of monotony in your work, you’re encouraged to seek new opportunities, Prasanthi notes. “ServiceNow is a place where employees can create opportunities for themselves,” she says, pointing to examples of innovation hackathons and the annual Knowledge event.

“Growth and opportunities have been a constant. That’s why I’ve been here for seven years,” acknowledges Natalya C., social media manager. “I’ve always been encouraged to speak my mind and share ideas, which has led to more doors opening and new challenges.”

Learn more about early career opportunities at ServiceNow.

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