๐ Top 5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Working with ServiceNow
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โ07-08-2025 11:02 AM
As I begin sharing my experiences here, I wanted to start with something that might help others who are just beginning their ServiceNow journey.
These are the **top 5 things I wish I had known earlier**โinsights that would have saved me hours of trial and error.
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๐น 1. Understand the Platform, Not Just the Module
When I started, I dove straight into ITSM and missed the bigger picture.
๐ ServiceNow is not just a set of apps โ itโs a powerful **platform**.
๐ Learn how:
* Tables & relationships work
* Dictionary entries define structure
* ACLs control access
Once you understand the platform layer, every module starts making more sense โ and customizations become smarter and safer.
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๐น 2. ๐ ๏ธ Always Follow Best Practices โ They Exist for a Reason
Whether itโs scripting, building flows, or designing UIs โ **best practices** are your long-term friends.
โ Key habits to adopt:
* Use **naming conventions** consistently
* Write **modular, reusable, and commented** code
* Prefer **Flow Designer** or **Script Includes** over duplicated logic
* Stick to **configuration over customization** whenever possible
This makes your work easier to scale, maintain, and upgrade.
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๐น 3. ๐ Leverage the Official Docs & Developer Portal Early
Don't rely solely on YouTube or random blogs in the beginning.
The official [ServiceNow Docs](https://docs.servicenow.com/) and [Developer Portal](https://developer.servicenow.com/) are your best teachers.
๐ก Youโll find:
* Step-by-step **learning paths**
* Access to **personal developer instances**
* **Code examples** and **release-specific content**
They help you build real confidence backed by reliable, structured knowledge.
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๐น 4. โ๏ธ Understand Client-Side vs Server-Side Scripting
A common beginner mistake: using the wrong script in the wrong place. This can break performance, logic, or even security.
๐ง Quick guide:
* Use **Client Scripts & UI Policies** for form-level interactions
* Use **Business Rules, Script Includes & Flows** for backend logic
* Use **GlideAjax** to safely call server-side code from the client
Mastering this will give you clean, optimized, and upgrade-safe code.
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๐น 5. ๐ค Never Underestimate the Community โ Itโs Your Best Resource
No matter your experience, youโll hit roadblocks. Thatโs when the **ServiceNow Community** becomes your best ally.
๐ฃ๏ธ Tips to make the most of it:
* Search before you post โ someoneโs already been there
* Ask questions or share even small wins
* Follow contributors and trending topics
Being part of this community helps you **grow faster, learn smarter, and stay inspired**. Thatโs why Iโm starting my own contribution journey here โ to learn, share, and give back.
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๐ Final Note:
> If youโre just starting out, I hope these tips help you skip a few early mistakes and grow with more clarity.
> Let me know in the comments โ whatโs *one thing* you wish *you* knew when you started with ServiceNow?
If this helped, please mark it as Correct or Helpfulโit really means a lot!
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โ07-10-2025 05:21 AM
Very insightful as a beginner in servicenow this are very important thing to keep in mind.
Beginner should once give it a read!