New CSA looking for advice — PDI projects, peer collaboration, and picking up real work

[bryanpena18]

Hey everyone! Just passed my CSA and wanted to introduce myself.

I'm Bryan, based in New Jersey, transitioning into ServiceNow administration through self-directed study and hands-on PDI work. I've been building custom applications on my own — tables, Service Catalog, Flow Designer workflows, roles, groups, and ACLs — but I'm looking to take it further.

A few things I'd love input on:

1. What PDI projects helped you most when you were starting out?
2. Are there any peer collaboration groups where junior admins work on projects together?
3. Any advice on picking up small freelance or volunteer work to build real experience?

Happy to connect with others at a similar stage or anyone willing to share knowledge. I can do a live PDI walkthrough if anyone wants to see what I've built.

Thanks in advance — glad to be part of the community!

Bryan ServiceNow CSA | New Jersey

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

Hi @bryanpena18 

Being a ServiceNow trainer, this is one of the most common questions I get asked. I think the key is to focus on the use case and the problem you are trying to solve. There are hundreds of ideas you can build around on the platform.

If you want some inspiration, challenge ideas, or project material, I would recommend visiting these links. These challenges are conducted by ServiceNow, where participants from around the world create applications and showcase their solutions.

The only catch is that you can take ideas and inspiration from them, but you should build the solution on your own based on your requirements and learning goals.

https://www.servicenow.com/community/developer-advocate-blog/more-calls-more-builds-the-buildmorewit...

https://www.servicenow.com/community/the-community-week-blog/buildwith-is-back-here-s-your-first-loo...

If you need more use case

https://developer.servicenow.com/blog.do?p=/post/creatorcon-hackathon-2023-winners/

https://www.servicenow.com/community/developer-advocate-blog/creatorcon-hackathon-2024-winners/ba-p/...

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

Hi @bryanpena18 

As you mentioned, you’ve completed CSA, and the next step would typically be CAD or Implementation training, depending on your career direction.

I’ve also included a few useful links to help you get started with real-world scenarios. You can use these to build and practice different use cases in your PDI environment.

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

I’m a ServiceNow trainer and happy to share my thoughts with anyone beginning their ServiceNow journey.

ServiceNow is growing rapidly in both breadth and depth. The best way to start is by earning the CSA (Certified System Administrator) certification, which builds a solid foundation in platform fundamentals, terminology, and core modules. Once you gain hands-on experience through CSA, you can decide your next learning path.

Employers value professionals with multi-module expertise, so after completing CSA, consider exploring areas like ITSM, GRC, HRSD, CSM, or SecOps to broaden your portfolio.

Currently, the training is free, which is a great opportunity — though the real challenge lies in gaining hands-on experience. To overcome this, spend at least 1–2 hours a day engaging with the ServiceNow Community — read discussions, answer questions, and share your insights to strengthen your understanding and confidence.

If your goal is to become a developer, focus on building scripting skills using resources available on developer.servicenow.com. Regular practice will enhance your technical expertise.

Start with the CSA and then choose your direction based on your interests — whether as an Admin, Developer, Business Analyst, Change Manager, or Project Manager. A strong foundation will give you the flexibility to explore any of these paths.

Welcome to this vibrant community space where you can connect, collaborate, and grow. Share your ideas, seek guidance, and contribute to collective learning.

To take the next step, register on Now Learning and begin your ServiceNow learning journey today.

Useful resources:

• ServiceNow Developer Program

• Now Learning

• ServiceNow Dev Program – YouTube

• ServiceNow Community – YouTube

• NOW Support – YouTube

You can also follow me on my YouTube channel for free learning resources and practical ServiceNow guidance.

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

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...