ServiceNow Engineer Looking For Career Advice

[nicholascer]

Hello Everyone. I am entering month 6 of my job search since leaving ServiceNow as a Technical Support Engineer (4 years I worked for them). and I am trying to find a way into a role as either a ServiceNow Developer of ServiceNow Admin. I hoped that my years of working directly on the platform, analyzing customer configurations and implementations and fixing them would have been enough to at least start. but I have been sending out hundreds of applications, and 90% of the time I'm not even getting past the recruiter call. I would like to know if any current SN professional have any advice they are willing to share with me, and maybe some feedback on my resume? Any insights would be greatly appreciated! https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-cerillo/ (edited) 

[Jennifer Metz]

Hello @nicholascer,

Thank you for sharing your experience. It really is a tough economy and job market right now, so please do not give up or feel like this is some kind of personal failing. It truly is just a difficult time to be in the market, but all hope is not lost. You have an excellent background and a very strong, valuable skill set.

Here are a few general tips that I personally follow and have seen work:

1. Be selective about the roles you apply to
It is very easy to feel exhausted during a job search and feel like you need to apply to hundreds of roles. Instead, focus on researching and targeting specific companies and positions where you genuinely feel you can add value. Quality over quantity really matters right now.

2. Tailor your resume for each role
ATS is unfortunately a reality of the hiring process, and who knows what additional complexity AI is adding to it. The goal is to align your resume as closely as possible with the job description by mirroring the keywords, tools, and phrasing they use. Even small adjustments can make a big difference in getting past the initial screen.

3. Network, do not just apply
Many companies offer referral incentives, which means people are often willing to help if approached thoughtfully. A referral can dramatically increase your chances of at least getting an interview. One of the ways I landed a job with my campus IT department while I was in school was through my existing network. A friend of a friend shared my resume directly with the hiring manager, and that personal connection helped me clear the interview process. That said, this can backfire if done poorly. Avoid cold messaging people and immediately asking for referrals. Start by building a genuine connection or asking for insight before making any requests.

4. Clearly show how you added value to the business
It used to be enough to list skills and day to day responsibilities. Employers now want to understand impact. Metrics are helpful, but they are even more powerful when paired with why the work mattered. Whenever possible, connect your experience to outcomes.

5. Looking ahead, try to line up your next role before leaving when possible
This is not always an option, and life happens, but it is worth mentioning. Being employed while searching can sometimes make the process easier, both from a recruiter perception standpoint and from a personal stress perspective. If nothing else, it can give you more leverage and breathing room during the search.

6. Help hiring managers see the role transition clearly
Even with strong ServiceNow experience, hiring managers sometimes struggle to connect support backgrounds to admin or developer roles. Be explicit about how your support work translates. Highlight configuration decisions you influenced, scripts you reviewed or modified, workflows you debugged, and patterns you saw across customers. Do not assume the reader will connect the dots for you.

7. Create Visible proof of your skills
When the market is crowded, proof helps you stand out. This does not need to be huge. A personal PDI, a small demo app, a GitHub repo, or a short LinkedIn post walking through how you solved a problem can go a long way. It shows initiative and gives hiring managers something concrete to evaluate beyond a resume.

8. Consider targeting ServiceNow partners with formal training or enablement programs
Many ServiceNow partners intentionally hire talent with strong platform fundamentals and then invest in training, certifications, and hands on project experience. These roles may not have the best or most polished titles, but they often provide faster exposure to real implementations and clearer growth paths into more advanced positions.

I hope this helps!