Speak with Strength: Succeeding in Your ServiceNow Interview

Kalisha_m · ‎07-16-2025

Acing a ServiceNow interview isn’t just about memorizing answers. It's about confidently telling your story, showcasing your platform knowledge, and demonstrating real-world problem-solving skills. Whether you're a recent graduate of the RiseUp with ServiceNow Program (formerly known as NextGen) or looking to expand your expertise for a more advanced role, this guide will help you tell your story with clarity and confidence. You’ve already done the work; now let’s make sure your story shines in the interview.

Step 1: Research the Company

Understanding a company's mission, culture, and delivery approach shows you're not just job hunting, you’re genuinely invested in their success.

What to look for:

Workplace culture and values
Size and structure of their ServiceNow team
Recent projects or case studies
Delivery methodology or implementation approach

How to use this info:

Look for ways to connect your mindset and working style to their stated mission or approach. Speak their language, and show how you’d fit in from day one. For example:

“My development process aligns with what you mentioned on your site, starting with gathering detailed requirements, actively listening to stakeholders, and building solutions that directly address business pain points”

Step 2: Analyze Key Documents

Your resume and the job description are central to the interview conversation. Interviewers often ask you to explain what’s on your resume or elaborate on skills listed in the job posting, this is your chance to show alignment.

Review your resume and prepare concise talking points for each role, project, or skill listed. Be ready to explain your impact and the tools or methods you used.
Study the job description and highlight the top 5–7 skills or qualifications they emphasize. For each key skill, think of a relevant experience from your work, training, or personal projects. Even if it's not a perfect match, focus on transferable strengths.
Highlight transferable skills and show alignment to what they’re seeking. Be ready to explain where you’ve practiced, learned, or applied that skill.
Focus on delivery. Speak clearly, take ownership of your experiences, and structure your stories with a beginning, middle, and end. Relevance is key.

Step 3: Prepare for Common Questions

Tell me about yourself / Run me through your resume: This question sets the tone for the entire interview. A confident, well-structured answer helps you take control of the conversation early. Use this four-part framework to tell your story with purpose:

Background before ServiceNow – Highlight transferable skills from previous roles. Think: problem-solving, communication, or attention to detail.

Example: “I started in customer service, where I developed strong communication and analytical skills...”

Your transition into tech – Share how you discovered the RiseUp with ServiceNow Program (or another path) and why you pivoted.

Example: “I was drawn to ServiceNow because I love solving real problems with scalable technology...”

Current platform experience – Talk about hands-on work, projects, personal builds, certifications, or labs. Show what you’ve done and what you’ve learned.

Example: “During the program, I built a custom app to track onboarding requests, using flows, forms, and access controls...”

Career goal – Close with a short, focused statement about where you’re headed.

Example: “My goal is to become a ServiceNow developer focused on ITSM, where I can contribute to impactful enterprise solutions.”

Example Answer:

"Hi [name], thank you for meeting with me. I transitioned into the ServiceNow space from a background in [previous industry]. Through the RiseUp with ServiceNow Program, I completed hands-on projects involving catalog items, workflows, and scripting. I earned my CSA and ITSM certifications, and most recently built a request and inventory management app that automated processes for self service requests using Flow Designer and business rules mainly. My goal is to grow into a ServiceNow developer role where I can help reduce development time and solve platform challenges for internal teams."

Pro Tip: Keep this intro to 1–2 minutes max. Avoid rambling by sticking to the four part framework listed above. Practice out loud and tweak it until it feels natural, not memorized.

Other Questions & Suggested Answers:

What’s your weakness?

“I’m still early in my ServiceNow journey and growing my technical depth, especially with scripting. That said, I’m a committed learner. I study daily, ask questions when needed, and take ownership to ensure I deliver quality solutions.”

When was a time you overcame a challenge?

“While building a client script to auto-populate a field, I realized it required using GlideAjax with a Script Include, something I hadn’t done before. I researched examples, used documentation, and tested solutions in my personal developer instance. In the end, I got it working and learned how to break down technical problems and find answers independently.”

How well do you know JavaScript?

“I’m comfortable reading and adjusting existing JavaScript, and I’ve used it alongside HTML and CSS for basic UI customizations. I’m still building confidence writing scripts from scratch, but I’ve successfully implemented client scripts, business rules, and UI policies in past projects.”

What do you do when you get a task you're unfamiliar with?

“First, I clarify the goal by rereading the user story and asking any needed questions to ensure I understand the expected outcome. Then I research using the ServiceNow product documentation and community forums, and test possible solutions in my PDI. If I still need help, I escalate with clear context, what I’ve tried, and what I’ve found so the team can support me efficiently.”

Step 4: Ask Questions in the Interview

Great candidates ask great questions. Asking thoughtful questions shows you're not just looking for any job, you’re thinking long-term and want to thrive in this one:

What does a typical day in this role look like?
How large is the ServiceNow team?
Are there growth opportunities or certifications supported?
Following this interview what are the next steps or timeline for when i can expect to hear back?
Based on my resume and the interview thus far, am I a qualifying candidate for this position?

Step 5: Practice Your Delivery

Even the best answers fall flat if delivered nervously or with uncertainty. Rehearse your responses out loud, especially your intro, resume walkthrough, and technical examples. How you can do this:

Write out your answers and practice saying them aloud
Rehearse with a friend or record yourself
Focus on pacing, posture, and eye contact (if on video)
Be you and show personality

Step 6: Check Your Setup

Look Professional, Feel Professional. For virtual interviews, your setup matters. Take 5 – 10 minutes the day before to prep:

Test your mic, camera, and internet beforehand
Dress professionally
Clear your background or use a virtual one
Make sure you’re in a quiet, distraction-free environment
Keep notes or your resume nearby for reference

Step 7: Always Follow Up

Send a short, thoughtful thank-you email within 24 hours. Reinforce your interest and briefly mention something specific from the conversation.

Connect with the interviewers on LinkedIn
Send a thank-you email that restates your enthusiasm
CC everyone involved if applicable

Example follow-up:

“Thanks again for your time today. I appreciated learning more about your team’s approach to agile implementation in ServiceNow. I’m excited about the possibility of contributing and continuing to grow within the platform.”

Bonus: How to Approach Case Studies

You may be asked to walk through how you’d solve a real-world ServiceNow problem. Here’s a framework you can follow:

Sample Scenario:

“A hiring manager wants a ServiceNow workflow to automate the approval process for new equipment requests. What steps would you take?”

Use this 4-step approach:

Understand the Problem: Identify the ask or goal and impacted users
Analyze and Build: Check for a simple solution first, is this something that can be solved with out-of-the-box ServiceNow functionality?

Break the problem down into smaller parts, what do you already know? What do you need to figure out? What tables will this touch? What approvals are needed?

Test and Troubleshoot: Run through the process while impersonating the impacted user(s). If needed, visit flow executions to figure out any errors.
Communicate Clearly: Walk through your thought process: “First I identified the need... then I researched... then I implemented and tested...”

Final Thoughts

A great interview tells your story, showcases your platform knowledge, and shows your ability to think critically and adapt. You don’t need to know everything, but you do need to show curiosity, problem-solving, resourcefulness, and commitment to growing in the ecosystem.

If you’ve made it this far, you’re already closer than most. Keep practicing, stay confident, and believe that the right opportunity is within reach. You’ve got this!

Have questions? Join our SNPDG Discord community: https://discord.gg/sWkf7WqP2k