Onboarding the Rocketship

The Onboarding Experience of ServiceNow

In this article, I will share some insights I have jotted down as I started the onboarding process with ServiceNow.

I am a part of the Customer Outcomes Advisory department, where I will be working as a Platform Architect via ServiceNow's newest premium service offering, Impact.

Message from Space

I recently left The Cloud People, a partner organization of ServiceNow, where I focused on implementing ServiceNow applications and processes?with my fantastic team. Though time was ripe for a change and as such, I gave my notice and started looking for new opportunities.

Hi Jakob, I am a Senior Talent Sourcer at ServiceNow and have been recruiting ServiceNow professionals for the past nine years in various roles across the UK and Europe. It would be great to connect. Best Regards Erkan

Such was the start of my journey, as I was approached via LinkedIn. Being a ServiceNow profile on LinkedIn can make you quite numb to recruiters' requests, and I took this message above way too much for granted. I did not absorb the significance of being invited into a Unicorn company such as ServiceNow and in such an exciting position as a member of the Impact Squad. Foolish ignorant me. I am happy that Erkan stuck around to knock some sense into me. Without him, I would not have been granted the opportunity of working with the world elite of Service Management and ServiceNow. Thanks, Erkan and Cathy, for making this happen for me.

Test of the coming ServiceNaut

Unfortunately, it was not enough to indicate my interest in the position. As it goes, I would need to go through three interviews.

1. With Erkan, the recruiter of ServiceNow
2. With Mikael, the hiring manager
3. Lastly, I had a panel presentation where I presented a case to four or five managers and Impact team members.

The first two interviews were easy since Erkan and Mikael were highly approachable and welcoming of me as an individual. I have since started learning something at the core of ServiceNow culture DNA.

The panel interview, however, pulled a few teeth. It was not that the panel wasn't friendly to me; it was because A) I had become keenly aware that I needed to perform as best I could to be granted a position with ServiceNow, and B) I was far more nervous than usual due to this. It had become clear that this opportunity here would significantly impact (pun intended) my future well-being and career.

Invitation to Space Academy

I presented my case and hoped for the best. It went by somewhat smoothly, though I messed up a few places.

And as it turns out, I wasn't offered the position.

See, I interviewed for a Senior Platform Architect position, but it turns out I needed more experience before I could call myself a senior in the world elite. The devastation lasted only a short while, as the hiring manager mentioned that he would look into getting me onto the team as a Platform Architect (without the fancy senior prefix).

As was mentioned during my later onboarding, you do not argue about the seat when you get an invitation to travel with a rocket ship. You get in. And that is precisely how I felt when I was offered a virtual piece of paper with a blank spot for my e-signature.

It just felt right.

The Onboarding

I didn't need to invent any space-themed allegory for that heading. It was already done for me.

mThe onboarding at ServiceNow is unlike anything you have likely tried before. You get the sense that you are entering an automation company - in the best mind. There is virtual onboarding (especially in the wake of COVID19), which might seem like a deterrent to some. But wow, what I have experienced is that there is a huge amount of resources and passion focused on getting everyone ramped up.

I immediately found that ServiceNow is a lot more than a cloud company. A plethora of personal and professional benefits extend to the whole family, a massive amount of premium on-demand training for all purposes, social equity initiatives and groups, and an actively inclusive culture.

The vision and mission of ServiceNow aren't just beautiful prints on a wall and the insides or marketing drawer. You get the sense that everyone is on board. And it is hard not to be. Because to a large degree, the values of ServiceNow can (in my opinion) be boiled down to what most will deem a good and contributing member of a larger group.

I feel increasingly blessed to have been allowed to experience such a network of passionate people. And, from the comfort of my home, no less.

In Orbit

My learning journey is far from over; luckily, so I would hate to stagnate. Though I am getting closer to orbit, I will soon be a part of customer engagements, ensuring that large enterprises get the most out of their investments in ServiceNow.

In conclusion, I will say that do you ever get the chance to experience such a journey - take it. There is little to compare it to. I am in awe of the effort of all that has catered to my every onboarding need. A big thank you to all that provides hard work and value in that process.