The ServiceNow Career Time-Machine Series - Pradeep Sharma

[Jakob Anker]

The ServiceNow Career Time-Machine Series - Pradeep Sharma

ServiceNow is rocketing along with explosive growth and significantly impacting the world of work. The ServiceNow community is also growing, and it is being led by pioneers dedicating their time to pursue a joint passion for nurturing and cultivating its people.

In this article, we ask: "If you could travel back in time to the start of your ServiceNow career, what would you advise yourself?" And we have the pleasure of hearing from community leaders. Together they have inspired, set standards, solved countless community challenges, promoted knowledge sharing, and published books and guides.

Presenting your time-traveler advisors: @Chuck Tomasi, @Maik Skoddow, @Pradeep Sharma, @Robert Fedoruk, @Jeremy Duncan, @Kali Alexander, and @Tim Woodruff.

As a cherry on top, you get a description of traits that will propel you toward success in the ServiceNow world, as seen from ServiceNow recruiters Erkan Ozlav and Cathy Allen.

If you are just now picking this series up, you have the opportunity to read:

The ServiceNow Career Time Machine - Chuck Tomasi.

The ServiceNow Career Time-Machine Series - Maik Skoddow

Pradeep Sharma

 

Born with a sixth sense alerting of any new community questions, and an ability to answer anything. If you frequent The Community, you have crossed paths.

Reflecting on the Past: Pradeep's Advice to His Younger Self

If Pradeep could travel back to the start of his journey with the ServiceNow platform, he would offer his younger self a practical piece of advice: "Invest more time in thoroughly understanding the platform's architecture and features." 

For those embarking on a similar path, this advice is invaluable.

Personally, when I (the author) started my own career path with ServiceNow I did much the same. I focused all of my attention on understanding how to configure and develop the system.

In my mind being able to understand and utilize the tools and materials at my disposal was a prerequisite - and a shortcut - to being able to provide prescriptive and meaningful solution designs, architecture, and platform advice in line with targeted business outcomes.

Invest more time in thoroughly understanding the platform’s architecture and features, actively participate in the community, and maintain a continuous learning mindset to stay up to date on platform releases.

The journey, from Pradeep's point of view, is not merely about acquiring knowledge but also about active participation in the ServiceNow community. Pradeep recognizes the power of collaboration and the wealth of knowledge shared within the community. Falling much in line with the values ServiceNow related to being Better Together and Winning as a Team.

Today's Wisdom: An Open Mind, Curiosity, and Learning

Pradeep's journey has been shaped by a commitment to an open mind, curiosity, and a continuous learning mindset. In the ever-evolving world of technology, staying open to new ideas and remaining curious are essential for personal and professional growth. Pradeep embodies the spirit of lifelong learning and encourages others to do the same.

Always stay open-minded, curious, and maintain a learning mindset.

On a note from the author, this makes me reflect on my own journey. I fell victim to my own presumed expertise, which is detrimental to anyone's ability to do stay within an open learning mindset. First step is recognizing you can be and do more, and that the more certain we become of something the more we blind ourselves to the full scope of meaningful variables. There is always more to understand and learn from - be it in the technical, strategic, financial, social, or any other realm.

Advice for Newcomers - The Pradeep Study Guide

For those just starting their journey with ServiceNow, Pradeep shares the following advice:

1. Learn the Fundamentals: Start with the ServiceNow Foundations course, which is free. It's an excellent way to become familiar with the platform's user interface, architecture, and configuration. This foundational knowledge is crucial as you dive into ServiceNow implementation and customization.

2. Hands-On Experience: Register to get access to a personal developer instance at no cost. Go through learning plans and complete each exercise. This hands-on experience will deepen your understanding of the platform.

3. Product Documentation: The official ServiceNow product documentation is a valuable resource. It provides detailed information on various topics and keeps you updated on ServiceNow releases, upgrades, administration, and application building.

4. ServiceNow Community: The ServiceNow community is a vibrant space for collaboration and knowledge sharing. With over 300,000 members, it's a treasure trove of insights from prospective customers, existing customers, implementation partners, and even ServiceNow's own employees. From support blog posts to discussions on the latest releases, you'll find a wealth of information here.

5. TechNOW and ServiceNow Community Videos: ServiceNow offers video demonstrations and live chat sessions, making it easier for visual learners to grasp concepts. TechNow, a ServiceNow video channel by Chuck Tomasi, is a great resource. Pradeep highlights, "Ask the Expert" sessions let you engage with ServiceNow subject matter experts." ServiceNowCommunity is the official Youtube channel for ServiceNow.

6. Stay Updated with Releases and Enhancements: ServiceNow delivers two major releases annually. Stay informed by following ServiceNow release notes, blogs, and documentation. Keeping up to date ensures you're aware of the latest capabilities.

7. ServiceNow Offered Training: ServiceNow provides training solutions on its products, platform, and technology. Even catered to specific Career Journeys (e.g., System Administrator, Business Analyst, etc.). These classes cater to various skill levels, learning styles, and schedules. Choose the classes that suit your learning style and objectives.

Pradeep's journey in the ServiceNow ecosystem is a testament to the power of knowledge, community, and continuous learning. His advice serves as a guiding light for newcomers and a reminder for seasoned professionals to remain open to new horizons.

In the ever-evolving landscape of ServiceNow, embracing a learning mindset is the key to unlocking success. Pradeep Sharma's wisdom resonates with anyone seeking to thrive in this dynamic ecosystem.

More from Pradeep

Who is Pradeep Sharma? - ServiceNow Community

Read another article on Pradeep from 2020.

Vancouver Features for Store Developers

Read the latest feature article for Vancouver by Pradeep.

Profile Pradeep Sharma - ServiceNow Community

Visit Pradeep's profile and see is impressive stats (as of publication date 25th of October 2023):

Up Next - Robert Fedoruk

A great thanks to all readers and especially Pradeep, for sharing his wealth of knowledge for all to benefit.

Next time, look forward to hearing insights from a true pillar in the ServiceNow Community, Robert Fedoruk.

Known as "The Duke" of ServiceNow, Rob has made a name for himself with top-quality content, doing his part for the next generation of ServiceNow professionals, and a crisp voice for podcasting.

More content by Jakob Anker Nielsen

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