Career Advice

[AbhishekChaudh]

I am new to ServiceNow and interested in a career as a developer. What skills should I focus on first?

[Uncle Rob]

Without trying to sound too flippant, the skills you need to build are learning the ServiceNow platform, and developing on it with javascript.  
Target your CSA, then your CAD, but most importantly built with what you learn.
The certs themselves don't tell anyone anything.

Also, this is very well articulated on ServiceNow University, under the Developer path.

[GlideFather]

Hi @AbhishekChaudh,

You should start with ServiceNow University (ex- Now Learning, if you'l see it, it's the same😞 

• https://www.servicenow.com/community/servicenow-university/ct-p/sn-university
  
  • scroll down and select your path and you will have many courses suggested,
  • most of it si free, but something (absolute minority) is paid
  • Enrol to Welcome to ServiceNow training and get your first cert 
    • it was very helpful even for me with years of experience when I took it

Then you can practice after creating your own PDI (Personal Developer Instance)

• You can have your own ServiceNow platform without a worry that you break something,
• except of AI and few more features you can try everything on your own for free!
• Also PDI shows you "how it should look like"
• Request your PDI here:
  • https://developer.servicenow.com/dev.do 
  • And also here in the top there are tabs:
    • Learning Path
    • Courses
    • Learn
    • Certifications
  • These will also help you understand and learn new things, you can get back to it when it's needed

At the ServiceNow University you collect points, badges and (micro-)certifications, on the Developer site is is just for you to learn without "reward", reward is what you will take from that class.

The very first training/certificate that you should take is Certified System Administrator (CSA), it is a must. If you are preparing yourself you might need to invest some money here, but it is worthy.

Happy learning and ask question in this Community when you will face any issues, you will receive support and help. Good luck!

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

Hi @AbhishekChaudh 

I’m a ServiceNow trainer and happy to share my thoughts on this. ServiceNow is becoming increasingly broad and deep these days, and the best way to kickstart your journey is by earning the CSA (Certified System Administrator) certification. The CSA provides a solid understanding of the platform, its terminology, and core modules. Once you get hands-on experience with the platform through CSA, you can decide on your next path.

Employers value professionals with experience across multiple modules, so it’s important to expand your knowledge and add more products to your portfolio. Consider focusing on areas like ITSM, GRC, HRSD, CSM, or SecOps.

Currently, the training is free, which is a fantastic opportunity. However, the real challenge is gaining hands-on experience. To overcome this, the ServiceNow community is an excellent resource. Dedicate at least 1-2 hours a day engaging with the community — read questions others are asking and contribute your own responses. Over time, this will improve your skills and boost your confidence.

Additionally, mastering scripting is essential if you want to become a developer. There are many courses and exercises available on developer.servicenow.com to help you practice and enhance your scripting skills, which will strengthen your portfolio.

Start with the CSA certification and then choose your next step based on your interests — whether that’s development, becoming a Business Analyst, Change Manager, or Project Manager. A solid foundation will give you the flexibility to pursue any domain you prefer.

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

Hi @AbhishekChaudh 

 JavaScript skills need improvement—recognizing that is the first step toward growth.

Here are a few tips:

1. Follow this master playlist to strengthen your JavaScript skills specifically for the ServiceNow platform. 

https://youtu.be/62Nabpb94Jw?si=FqBwRN2B8C71aYHr

1. Spend at least 1–2 hours daily on the ServiceNow Community. Observe the kinds of technical questions being asked and how experienced members respond. You’ll learn a lot passively this way—and I highly encourage you to start answering questions as well. Explaining concepts to others will improve your technical thinking and deepen your understanding.

1. Explore the free courses available on the ServiceNow Developer Site. These are practical and focused, and will help you apply your knowledge directly on the platform.

2. https://developer.servicenow.com/dev.do#!/learn/learning-plans/yokohama/citizen_developer
3. https://developer.servicenow.com/dev.do#!/learn/learning-plans/yokohama/servicenow_application_devel...