Raana’s story: Example of a squiggly career at ServiceNow

Not all careers run in a straight line. The most rewarding journeys often involve detours, pauses at unexpected junctions, and a bit of trial and error. Sometimes, the road looks more like the Magic Roundabout in Hemel Hempstead than a motorway with a clear destination sign.

Employees at ServiceNow embrace these squiggly careers. Our People Pact is our commitment to each other to do our best work, live our best lives, and fulfil our purpose together. This empowers our people to move between job functions and teams to find the role that best suits their skills and ambitions.

Here’s the story of Raana C., a solution consultant at ServiceNow, who took control of her career trajectory with a move from HR to solution consulting.

Raana’s career hasn’t followed a predictable script. After leaving university, where she loved learning but struggled with its rigidity, she worked in sales roles that were anything but ordinary. She gift-wrapped a helicopter, furnished flats in Monaco, and sold fine watches.

Sales led naturally into recruitment, where Raana thrived in a fast-paced role for five years. That experience brought her to ServiceNow in a talent sourcing role.

After two successful years placing people into positions across ServiceNow, Raana realised she wanted something different. But instead of leaving the company, she explored internal opportunities and eventually arrived in solution consulting.

Building a network that opens new doors

Making a big change can feel intimidating, but Raana discovered she didn’t have to do it alone. Her manager championed her from the start. “It didn’t matter where success was,” Raana recalls. “She said, ‘I’m here to make that happen for you.’”

With encouragement, introductions, and conversations across the business—including with people she met through employee belonging groups and culture champion activities—Raana built a network that gave her the confidence to turn off the main road and try a new direction.

“I have never reached out to someone and had them say no,” she says. “Even if they couldn’t help, they knew someone who could.” That support eventually led Raana to her interview and new role.

Spotting and applying transferable skills

Solution consulting sounded technical and daunting to Raana at first. But her current manager helped her reframe the challenge. Technology is about solving people’s problems—and people skills are just as critical as technical knowledge.

Raana’s strengths in communication, empathy, and transparency help her connect with clients and colleagues. She can pick up when people are struggling and offer clarity when it’s needed.

When self-doubt creeps in, Raana reminds herself of the advice she once gave candidates. This role matches her skills and her goals.

Taking the scenic route to the right role

Raana worried about what a move into a different function might mean for her career. Would her earlier progress “count”? Was she taking a wrong turn?

To answer those questions, she took advantage of ServiceNow’s shadowing and learning opportunities. She split her week between her talent sourcing role and exploring other functions while also completing courses and micro-certifications to show she was ready for the learning curve.

The experience gave Raana clarity about what she wanted most from a role: ownership, flexibility, and variety.

Looking back, Raana doesn’t see it as a step backwards—it’s more like navigating a roundabout with several exits. Some routes take longer and others take you around a loop, but they all get you closer to the destination that fits you best.

Find the role that’s right for you. Explore ServiceNow careers.