what are ServiceNow developer interview questions?

During a ServiceNow Developer interview, you can expect a mix of technical, platform-specific, and problem-solving questions. These questions assess your proficiency in JavaScript, ServiceNow scripting, custom application development, and your understanding of key platform concepts such as workflows, business rules, and integrations.

Here are some common ServiceNow Developer interview questions:

1. General ServiceNow Platform Questions

These questions assess your familiarity with the ServiceNow platform and its core features.

• What is ServiceNow, and what are its main features?

  • You should be able to explain ServiceNow's role as a platform for IT service management (ITSM) and business process automation, highlighting features like workflows, incident management, and integrations.

• What are ServiceNow's key modules, and how are they used?

  • Explain modules like ITSM (Incident, Problem, Change Management), ITOM (Operations Management), CMDB (Configuration Management Database), and HRSD (HR Service Delivery).

• What are the different types of applications you can develop on the ServiceNow platform?

  • Discuss custom applications, scoped apps, and how you can build new applications using ServiceNow Studio.

2. JavaScript and Scripting Questions

JavaScript is the backbone of ServiceNow development, so you’ll need to demonstrate your proficiency in both client-side and server-side scripting.

• Explain the use of Client Scripts in ServiceNow.

  • You may be asked to describe the different types of client scripts (onLoad, onChange, onSubmit) and when to use each one.

• What are Business Rules, and when are they executed?

  • Explain that Business Rules are server-side scripts that run when records are inserted, updated, or deleted. You should discuss the difference between synchronous and asynchronous Business Rules.

• How do you use GlideRecord in ServiceNow?

  • Be prepared to explain GlideRecord, which is used to query and manipulate records from a table. You might be asked to write or explain a simple script.

  Example:

  var gr = new GlideRecord('incident');
  gr.addQuery('priority', 1);
  gr.query();
  while (gr.next()) {
    gs.print(gr.number + ' - ' + gr.short_description);
  }

• What is the difference between GlideAjax and GlideRecord?

  • GlideRecord is used to interact with records in the database, while GlideAjax is used for server-side processing that can be called from client-side scripts.

3. Workflow and Automation Questions

ServiceNow is heavily used for workflow automation, so you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to build and manage workflows.

• How do you create and manage workflows in ServiceNow?

  • Explain the Workflow Editor, how to create approval flows, notifications, and conditions to automate tasks.

• What is Flow Designer, and how does it differ from traditional workflows?

  • Flow Designer is a newer, low-code tool for building automation workflows, designed to replace traditional workflows in some use cases.

• How do you automate ticket assignment using a workflow or business rule?

  • Describe how you can create a workflow or Business Rule that assigns tickets to users based on criteria like priority or user roles.

4. API and Integration Questions

ServiceNow is often integrated with external systems, so you may be asked to demonstrate knowledge of APIs and web services.

• How do you integrate ServiceNow with third-party applications?

  • Explain how you can use REST or SOAP APIs to integrate ServiceNow with external systems, along with OAuth for secure authentication.

• How do you handle authentication in REST API calls in ServiceNow?

  • Discuss how OAuth, Basic Auth, or API keys can be used for authentication when making REST API calls.

• How do you create a REST API endpoint in ServiceNow?

  • You should explain the steps for creating a REST API using ServiceNow's Scripted REST APIs, including how to define resources and methods.

5. Debugging and Optimization Questions

Debugging and optimizing your scripts and workflows is essential for a ServiceNow developer role.

• How do you debug scripts in ServiceNow?

  • Discuss tools like gs.log() for server-side debugging and the JavaScript Log and System Diagnostics for client-side debugging.

• What are ServiceNow’s governor limits, and how do you handle them?

  • Explain that ServiceNow enforces limits on things like the number of queries per transaction to ensure performance. Discuss how you can avoid hitting these limits by optimizing queries and using batch processing.

6. Data Management and CMDB Questions

ServiceNow developers often work with data and the Configuration Management Database (CMDB).

• How do you maintain data integrity when importing data into ServiceNow?

  • Talk about using Import Sets, Transform Maps, and how to handle data mapping and validation to avoid duplications or errors.

• How do you manage Configuration Items (CIs) in the CMDB?

  • Explain how to add, update, and relate CIs within the CMDB, and how ServiceNow Discovery can be used to automate CI identification and relationships.

7. Service Catalog and Portal Questions

ServiceNow developers often build or customize the Service Catalog and Service Portal.

• How do you create a catalog item in ServiceNow?

  • Describe how to create Catalog Items, including forms, fields, and associated workflows that automate approvals or fulfillments.

• What is the Service Portal, and how can you customize it?

  • Explain how Service Portal provides a user-friendly interface for users to request services, and how you can customize it using widgets, HTML, CSS, and client-side scripting.

8. Problem-Solving and Scenario-Based Questions

Many interviews will include scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills within ServiceNow.

• How would you troubleshoot a slow-running query or script in ServiceNow?

  • Discuss optimizing GlideRecord queries, indexing tables, and reducing script execution times by avoiding unnecessary operations.

• How would you approach building a custom application for tracking internal projects?

  • Walk through the steps of building a scoped application, from designing the data model to creating workflows and reports for project tracking.

9. Behavioral Questions

Like most interviews, you may also face behavioral questions to assess your communication skills, teamwork, and ability to handle challenges.

• Tell me about a time you worked with a difficult team member on a project. How did you resolve the situation?
• Describe a challenging ServiceNow project you worked on and how you solved it.
• How do you handle tight deadlines and multiple projects?

10. Certifications and Training Questions

• Do you have any ServiceNow certifications?
  • ServiceNow certifications, such as Certified System Administrator (CSA) or Certified Application Developer (CAD), are often a bonus in an interview. Be prepared to discuss any certifications and the knowledge you've gained from them.

Conclusion

To crack a ServiceNow Developer interview, focus on mastering JavaScript, GlideRecord, workflows, API integrations, and custom application development on the platform. Be prepared for scenario-based questions and coding challenges, as well as questions about your experience with ServiceNow’s modules and tools like Flow Designer and REST APIs. Practicing these areas and demonstrating your problem-solving skills will increase your chances of success.