Beginner here...

[Xoman67]

Hi community, I just created a pdi and I don't know what to do next. the assumption seems to be that I suppose to know what to do? like is there a print statement test I can do to say "hello world" (if you know what I mean...)

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

Hi @Xoman67 

Greetings!!

As a ServiceNow trainer, I’m happy to share my thoughts.

A PDI is not like a command prompt or a DOS system. It’s an environment where you use ServiceNow modules and features.

Since you’re new, here are a few answers and clarifications to help you get started.

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

Hi @Xoman67 

Welcome to this dedicated space tailored just for you, where you can connect with peers, express your ideas, and deepen your understanding of ServiceNow.

We're here to assist with any questions you may have, and we extend a warm welcome to the ServiceNow Community. Embrace the community spirit, fostering learning and growth together. Share your knowledge, seek answers, and contribute to discussions. You're now part of a vibrant community where continuous learning and collective growth are encouraged.

If you're ready to take the next step in your professional journey within domains like Administration, Development, Business Analysis, or Project Management, consider registering on Now Learning to embark on this enriching experience.

Few good resources:

https://developer.servicenow.com/dev.do#!/learn
https://nowlearning.servicenow.com/lxp/en/pages/servicenow
https://www.youtube.com/@ServiceNowDevProgram
https://www.youtube.com/@ServiceNowCommunity
https://www.youtube.com/@NOWsupport

or follow me , on my YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@LearnNGrowTogetherwithAtulG

Join me on telegram https://t.me/learngrow_servicenow Join me on WhatsApp (BA / BPC Learning Group) https://chat.whatsapp.com/GONmmppyF3H7NWA0sRpMcq

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

Greetings!

I am a ServiceNow trainer and would be happy to guide you.

ServiceNow is expanding both in depth and breadth these days, so moving forward, career planning needs to be done very carefully.

Anyone who wants to start their career in ServiceNow should begin with the basics—ServiceNow Administration. This helps participants understand the platform, terminology, core concepts, architecture, and foundational knowledge that is used across all ServiceNow products. At this stage, you can prepare for the CSA (Certified System Administrator) certification. There are dedicated CSA courses available on Now Learning, either as individual courses or guided learning journeys—you can choose what suits you best.

After completing CSA, the next step depends on the direction you want to take—development or a specific product specialization.
If you want to move into development, CAD (Certified Application Developer) is the next step. This focuses on development concepts, scripting, and other coding-related aspects of ServiceNow.

After that, you can choose any product based on your interest and demand, such as ITSM (which is widely required), CSM, HRSD, GRC, or any other ServiceNow product, and continue growing in that direction.

As a foundation, CSA → CAD is a good path to follow.

Additionally, if you do not want to go into development, there are other career options such as Business Analyst (BA), Business Process Consultant (BPC) (I am a BPC), Technical Support Specialist, or Change Manager (OCM).

System Administrator Career Journey - ServiceNow University

Application Developer Career Journey - ServiceNow University

[nayanmule]

@Xoman67  , That's great to know that you are starting your journey with Servicenow.

But , before you start you should first understand where and why Servicenow is used.

Servicenow is not just a tool or just an ITSM tool. It's not any coding tool where you have to write big scripts everytime.

You can refer Servicenow Docs, Now Learning, Youtube tutorials to start learning. First start with the basic module ITSM. 

Learn Incident, Problem, Change Management and most importantly Service Catalogs.

1. Start with the Fundamentals
Before jumping into scripting or complex configurations, understand the platform’s structure.
 Learn the Core Concepts:

What is a table, record, and field
Difference between forms and lists
What a module, application, and scope mean
What is configuration vs customization
Basic navigation of the platform

2. Explore Out‑of‑Box Applications First
Many beginners immediately try to write code. Instead, focus on how OOTB modules work:

Incident Management
Problem Management
Change Management
CMDB
Knowledge
Service Catalog
Workflows / Flow Designer

Understanding these makes you 10× more effective later when you start customizing.

3. Learn the No‑Code / Low‑Code Tools First
These tools give you quick wins while helping you understand how platform logic works:
Start with:

UI Policies
Client Scripts (basic)
Business Rules (basic)
Flow Designer
Notifications
ACLs basics
Catalog Items, Variables, Variable Sets

4. Pick Up Scripting 
Don’t jump straight into complex GlideRecord queries or advanced APIs.
Start with:

Basic GlideRecord operations
Client Script basics (onChange, onLoad, onSubmit)
Simple Business Rules (before insert/update)
Reading the system logs

5. Practice in a Personal Developer Instance (PDI)
This is mandatory.

It’s free
No risk of breaking anything
You can test any use case you want

 Request one from: developer.servicenow.com
Use the PDI like your playground.

6. Learn Through Real Use Cases
This is where your journey becomes exciting.
Try building:

A custom table
A simple catalog item
A workflow/flow designer flow
A small app with 2 tables and a relationship

Each mini‑project builds confidence.

7. Join the ServiceNow Community
It’s one of the most active, supportive communities in the IT world.
Participate in:

Community Q&A
Blogs
Meetup groups
YouTube lives
Citizen Developer challenges

You'll learn tricks that no course teaches.

8. Follow a Skills Path (Based on the Role You Want)
If you want to be a Developer →

System Admin basics
Scripting
Flow Designer / IntegrationHub
Workflows
MID Server & Integrations
ATF (Automated Test Framework)
Application development

If you want to be an Administrator →

Navigation basics
Tables, forms, UI
Users/Roles/ACLs
ITSM
CMDB
Notifications
Flow Designer

If you want to be a Business Analyst →

ITSM processes
Catalog requirements building
Process flows
Story writing
UAT handling

Pick your career path early—your learning becomes sharper.

9. Take Certifications in This Order:

ServiceNow Certified System Administrator (CSA)
ITSM Fundamentals / Implementation Specialist
Application Developer (CAD)
Any domain‑specific ones later (SecOps / HRSD / CSM etc.

Thanks,

Nayan