Looking for guidance on choosing a future-proof ServiceNow specialization

[Vasanth001]

Hi Community,

Firstly, I’d like to extend my gratitude to this amazing community — it has been a great source of learning and support throughout my ServiceNow journey so far.

About me:
I have 3 years of experience as a ServiceNow Developer. I started with core ITSM modules, working on Business Rules, Client Scripts, ACLs, Flows, Workflows and Service Catalogs. Over time, I transitioned into custom application development and building Workspaces using UI Builder.

Now, I’ve been given a great opportunity:
I can choose a ServiceNow product or technology to specialize in — based on my interest and career goals.

Before deciding, I wanted to seek insights from experts here on:

• Which product or specialization in ServiceNow is in high demand now and in the near future?

• Which areas are well-paying and offer long-term career stability?

• Any certifications or learning paths you'd recommend based on current market trends?

I’ve done some groundwork, but I’d love to hear real-world perspectives and advice from those who’ve already taken this path.

Looking forward to your suggestions and experiences!

Thanks,
Vasanth

[Martin Virag · Accepted solution]

From my personal experience, if you really want to specialise in a product area:

• CSM and HRSD projects are growing fast and are generally in high demand.

If you have good process knowledge, then:

• SOM , Security Operations, or Audit (GRC) are very niche areas with less competition.

However, I think it’s better to focus on learning the whole platform in general. Being able to choose the right tool or approach for a business problem is more valuable than knowing every script include and artifacts for one specific product (because you can always learn those quickly when needed).

So if you want to be an app dev, I would go with that Specialization
if you want to be working more on the Product-side (like a PO) then follow that specialization. Keep in mind though that usually Product guys are the first to be cut off during a layoff 🙂 

Good luck with you career!

[GlideFather · Accepted solution]

Hi @Vasanth001,

I am worried there is not any universal answer to this... 

ITSM is in every single company and thus each clients use it, it is impossible to avoid this module :))

For the other modules, it might be tricky, you will start to focus on security but your next requirement will be in CSAM or vice versa... you can go to ServiceNow university and there are predefined career journeys and paths, it can give you the guidance on what to take next and how to extend your knowledge.

Most of it is for free, some required instructor-led class, CIS or Micro-certs to pass:

https://learning.servicenow.com/lxp/en/pages/career-journey?id=journey%20 

Career Journeys FAQ:

https://learning.servicenow.com/lxp/en/get-started-with-servicenow-university-resources/career-journ...

I hope this can help you to take the right steps in your next career. Unfortunately I cannot provide better answer, because I don't know you and your situation. It would also depend on how is your project assigned to you - are yo ua freelancer or under an consultancy firm... who selects what are you going to do. This is where you should ask what is the next module or feature to learn.

Let me know if you want to discuss something in more details

[Dr Atul G- LNG · Accepted solution]

Hi @Vasanth001 

I’m a ServiceNow trainer and happy to share my thoughts on this. I interact with many candidates who are in a similar situation, and I believe seeking guidance from the community is always a good step.

ServiceNow is growing rapidly—the days are gone when it was just seen as a ticketing tool. Now, it's expanding horizontally and vertically, offering deep functionality across various domains.

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Before deciding, I’d like to seek insights from the experts here on a few key points:

1. Which product or specialization in ServiceNow is in high demand now and in the near future?

Atul: As I mentioned, ServiceNow is growing significantly. Currently, GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance), HAM (Hardware Asset Management), and SAM (Software Asset Management) are in high demand—they’re like hot cakes in the market. That said, it doesn’t mean other areas are not in demand. I've also seen rising opportunities in Telecom Product and S2P (Source to Pay).

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2. Which areas are well-paying and offer long-term career stability?

Atul: It’s hard to define a "well-paying" career—it depends on various factors like your experience, skillset, role, and even your previous CTC. The market is quite versatile. But from a career stability perspective, yes, ServiceNow is definitely a long-term bet, as long as you're committed to consistently upgrading your skills.

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3. Any certifications or learning paths you'd recommend based on current market trends?

Atul: It depends on where you are in your career journey. Since you’re in the early stages, I’d recommend focusing on ServiceNow development first. Start with the CAD (Certified Application Developer) certification, and explore relevant developer content on Now Learning. Over time, you can start picking up product-specific skills—like GRC, HAM, or SAM—as mentioned earlier.

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[Martin Virag · Accepted solution]

From my personal experience, if you really want to specialise in a product area:

• CSM and HRSD projects are growing fast and are generally in high demand.

If you have good process knowledge, then:

• SOM , Security Operations, or Audit (GRC) are very niche areas with less competition.

However, I think it’s better to focus on learning the whole platform in general. Being able to choose the right tool or approach for a business problem is more valuable than knowing every script include and artifacts for one specific product (because you can always learn those quickly when needed).

So if you want to be an app dev, I would go with that Specialization
if you want to be working more on the Product-side (like a PO) then follow that specialization. Keep in mind though that usually Product guys are the first to be cut off during a layoff 🙂 

Good luck with you career!

[Vasanth001]

@Martin Virag Thanks a lot for the insight! Totally agree—mastering the platform and solving business problems is more valuable long-term. I’ll definitely look deeper into CSM, HRSD, and areas like GRC. Appreciate your honest and practical advice!

[GlideFather · Accepted solution]

Hi @Vasanth001,

I am worried there is not any universal answer to this... 

ITSM is in every single company and thus each clients use it, it is impossible to avoid this module :))

For the other modules, it might be tricky, you will start to focus on security but your next requirement will be in CSAM or vice versa... you can go to ServiceNow university and there are predefined career journeys and paths, it can give you the guidance on what to take next and how to extend your knowledge.

Most of it is for free, some required instructor-led class, CIS or Micro-certs to pass:

https://learning.servicenow.com/lxp/en/pages/career-journey?id=journey%20 

Career Journeys FAQ:

https://learning.servicenow.com/lxp/en/get-started-with-servicenow-university-resources/career-journ...

I hope this can help you to take the right steps in your next career. Unfortunately I cannot provide better answer, because I don't know you and your situation. It would also depend on how is your project assigned to you - are yo ua freelancer or under an consultancy firm... who selects what are you going to do. This is where you should ask what is the next module or feature to learn.

Let me know if you want to discuss something in more details

[Vasanth001]

@GlideFather Really appreciate you taking the time to write this! 😊 You’re right—ITSM is everywhere and kind of unavoidable at this point. I’ll definitely check out the career journeys on SN University, hadn’t explored that in detail before. And yeah, it does make sense to decide based on the kind of projects I get assigned. Thanks again for the honest advice—it means a lot! I’ll definitely reach out to you if I need any more guidance.