Question for all 2nd year and SENIOR ADMINS

[rickflair]

As someone whom has a few months experience in SN (no real work but lots of practice and went through SN University last year) what are the trends (if any) that you are noticing that industries expect of you? Is it more Developer knowledge? Is it experience in different modules and not just one? Is it AI automation knowledge? I'm just trying to understand where the Admin role is going so I can be competitive in this fast, ever changing tech industry and trying to get employed in this economy.

Thank you! (Any advice or wisdom would help)

[Kieran Anson]

Hey,

My views are based on what is being observed in the UK market but I imagine it's similar across the globe. The ServiceNow market is saturated with individuals with CSA, and even individuals with plentiful CIS certifications. As someone who's led a number of interviews, I've started to particularly focus on soft skill and an ability to understand a requirement rather than simply 'doing' what is asked. 

For example, the incident manager has come to you directly, and asked you to remove priority 1 being selectable from incidents except for a few named individuals. 

What would you do? If a person goes ahead and just implements this, it shows a lack of critical thinking. Someone who challenges it, asks questions, and even proposes as alternative is seen as a much more desirable candidate. ServiceNow roles are becoming more 'T' shaped and require everyone to take on a level of analysis in order to remain competitive and knowledgeable. 

Outside of that, specific product areas that have a lack of well skilled individuals:

1. Strategic Portfolio Management - Too many implementers tackle this ITBM, and miss the objective
2. Telco - More and more telco providers are taking advantage of the product
3. IRM - New laws are requiring financial organisations , public bodies, etc, to evidence their risk management
4. AI - It's all people talk about, but the customer base is small. It's hard to make this your niche as access to an environment that has AI enabled is extremely limited

[WillieW]

If you are in the U.S., Servicenow is hiring for their Support Team. No better place to learn, great company. I was hired with no prior knowledge of the platform. I was provided with 3 months of training before facing any customers. worked there 7.5 years and was compensated enough to retire.

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

Hi @rickflair 

Something i replied earlier:

As a ServiceNow trainer, I’m happy to guide you here.
First of all, congratulations on earning your CSA certification! However, it’s important to understand that ServiceNow has become much broader and deeper over the years.
These days, CSA alone isn’t enough — you need to build your portfolio and gain practical exposure, which I mentioned in my earlier reply.

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Q: How do I turn this training into real-world experience or a job opportunity?
Atul: It depends on the region you’re in. Many companies do hire for admin roles, but as I said, just having CSA won’t be sufficient. Consider earning micro-certifications and building your project portfolio to stand out.

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Q: Do employers expect hands-on project work or certifications beyond CSA?
Atul: Yes, they do. Even if your projects are self-created or dummy projects, having hands-on experience demonstrates your ability to apply concepts in practice, which employers really value.

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Q: Where’s the best place to find opportunities — LinkedIn, ServiceNow’s career page, or partner organizations?
Atul: LinkedIn is the best place to start. Begin by connecting with like-minded professionals and engaging with the community.
Along with that, regularly check company career pages and partner organizations’ websites for open roles.

Good luck!

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

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.