Nine ServiceNow interview questions (and how to answer them)

Now that you have scheduled your interview for your ServiceNow dream job – how will you prepare for it?  Not to worry, we have compiled the top ServiceNow interview questions for you (with answers) so that you can study up and be ready to land your new job!

1. What exposure have you had to the ServiceNow Platform?

Describe in detail your experience working on the ServiceNow Platform. You can list some examples of working with the platform in various positions.

2. What implementations have you done?

For this ServiceNow interview question – it might be helpful for you to make a list beforehand. Employers want to see evidence that you have worked with ServiceNow long enough to have a good grasp of the system. They want to know that you can solve problems and be trusted to manage the tools you have.

3. Can you tell me any major projects you have worked on previously?

• What was the project?
• How did you contribute?
• How did you influence others?
• What was the outcome?
• How would you bring those skills to this job?
• What were they key deliverables?
• How did you plan your time?
• What were the key technical aspects?

4. Talk about real life examples of your experiences:

Obviously, you’ve landed the interview because you have the work history to prove that you are capable of doing the job. But an employer wants to get a handle on your deeper knowledge. The interviewers will be looking for specific examples of exactly what projects you did, not what the team’s role as a whole was, or what you would do in a hypothetical situation.

Be ready to answer questions about your experience in the following subjects (if relevant):

• Development
• Processes
• Design Work
• Workflows
• Architecture
• Management
• Leadership
• Technical Knowledge

5. Which ServiceNow modules do you specialize in – and why?

As this is also an experiential question, be prepared to cover the following topics if asked this question:

• What modules?
• What did you do with the modules?
• Which modules are your specialty?
• What skills can you bring to the job to help expand their platform?

6. Do you have leadership experience?

This is a big one – one of the many non-technical ServiceNow interview questions you may be asked. It might be one of the most important questions you will have to answer at your interview. What does it take to be a good leader, and do you have experiences and examples to provide to your employer? We can break this answer down to “soft skills” that you should be able to talk about.

• Communication skills: Good communication skills are essential in the spoken and written word. You will need to be capable of discussing projects and assignments with your teammates. This needs to be in a constructive manner to make sure the process runs smoothly.
• Problem solving: Employers want to know that you can solve problems that may arise. Natural-born project managers will have this skill, and it is something which cannot be taught or learned over time. Being able to prove this with examples is essential in landing your dream job.
• Teaching ability: ServiceNow professionals who can teach their know-how and new technology to other users and employees are absolutely essential. It is of the utmost importance that a ServiceNow professional possesses the ability to share their thoughts with their team and listen to their peers.
• Team building: Going hand-in-hand with teaching ability, a good employee should be able to bring a team together. They should be able to give feedback and allow the team an opportunity to try new things, as well as to reward their team when they have done well. Team leaders should also be able to handle a conflict without letting tensions get too hot – conflict resolution skills are a big part of team building.

7. Have you had face-to-face experience with clients or stakeholders?

This is another that falls under the soft skills. A well-rounded employee will be highly-skilled in both the technical side of their job, as well as the customer-facing side. Your boss will want to know you can handle yourself if faced with telling a client or stakeholder about technical information in a manner that they can understand. Be ready for this question during your ServiceNow interview with an example of a time that you have had a successful experience speaking to clients or stakeholders. You can talk about the following points:

• How do you manage your clients’ needs and expectations?
• How do you manage your day-to-day interactions with your clients?
• How do you manage workflow from your client or clients?

8. What are your strengths?

Your interviewer is looking for a direct answer as to what you are good at and how it is going to add value.

This is one of the most common ServiceNow interview questions, or in any interview — there is no excuse for being unprepared for this one. Concentrate on discussing your main strengths; listing three or four explanations of how they could benefit the employer. Strengths to consider include technical proficiency; ability to learn quickly; determination to succeed; positive attitude; your ability to relate to people and achieve a common goal. You may be asked to give examples of these –  so have something ready.

9. What is your biggest weakness?

The dreaded interview question: What is your greatest weakness? It’s often debated, but we have insight from our top ServiceNow consultants who have successfully prepared candidates for interviews; you should be honest about your technical areas for improvement and your commitment to learning new skills. This will handle the interviewers’ potential objections up-front, however, it is very important to never give generic weaknesses such as ‘I work too hard.’

Final tips

Approach your interview feeling confident in your skillset and knowledge. Remember, you are the expert and that’s why you are in the room! Some of the biggest deciding factors in an interview are based – not only on your skills and how you’ve answered their questions – but on your body language.

Body language dos

• Ensure a firm handshake
• Walk slowly, deliberately, and tall upon entering the room
• Maintain eye contact throughout your interview
• Look away occasionally, as not to stare, looking confidently and calmly to the right or left; never look down
• Listen
• Be alert and enthusiastic
• Smile, nod, and give nonverbal feedback to the interviewer

Body language don’ts

• Have a poor/limp handshake
• Display laziness
• Be aggressive or act in a superior, conceited or overbearing way
• Have a poor voice, diction, or grammar
• Look distracted, look down or avoid eye contact
• Talk too much
• Lose concentration or attention

How do I answer questions about my competency?

Competency based interview questions are slightly different to the style you may be used to. They will tend to focus on past situations and your behavior in those situations. Competency Questions are likely to start with: Please give me an example when”  or, “Please describe an occasion” and will relate directly to the essential criteria or competencies required to perform the job.

You can choose to use relevant examples from your current job or any jobs in the past. It is likely that the interviewers will then follow with some probing questions, possibly clarifying a particular area. They will be interested in the outcome of the situation, whether there was anything you learned from the experience, etc.

1. Explain the situation in a way that demonstrates your competency
2. Describe the task or tasks required of you given the above situation
3. Discuss the actions you took in relation to the above situation and task(s)
4. Define the specific results that occurred as a result of your actions

While the process of finding, applying, and interviewing for ServiceNow jobs can seem intimidating, remember that there are services out there to help you. If you’re interested in finding a new job, drop us a line or upload your resume online – we can help.

Have you interviewed for a ServiceNow position lately? If so, let us know in the comments below and tell us any questions we may have missed.