ServiceNow Resume Keywords (2026): 60+ ATS Skills for Admins & Developers
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🚨 Critical Warning for ServiceNow Professionals:
The ServiceNow market is booming, but it's also becoming segmented. Recruiters are no longer looking for a "ServiceNow Guy." They are hunting for "HRSD Specialists" or "ITOM Experts."
If your resume just says "ServiceNow Experience" without the specific module acronyms and technical keywords, you will be filtered out by the ATS.
Why ServiceNow Resume Keywords Matter in 2026
The "Now Platform" has grown into a beast. It's no longer just an IT ticketing system; it's the "Platform of Platforms" for HR, Customer Service, Security, and Operations.
This means the generic "ServiceNow Admin" role is fading. High-paying contracts ($150k - $200k+) demand specialization.
The "Black Hole" of ServiceNow Recruiting:
- ATS Algorithms are set to filter for specific CIS (Certified Implementation Specialist) streams.
- Recruiters often don't know that "flow" and "workflow" are different in ServiceNow. They search for exactly what the Job Description says.
- Certifications (CSA, CAD, CIS) are often used as hard knock-out questions.
What Are ServiceNow Resume Keywords?
ServiceNow resume keywords are the specific terminologies, modules, platform features, and development standards that define your capability on the platform.
They generally fall into three buckets:
- Core Platform: (Tables, ACLs, CMDB, Flow Designer)
- Modules/Workflows: (ITSM, ITOM, HRSD, CSM, GRC)
- Development: (GlideRecord, Client Scripts, UI Policies, Portal)
🚀 Trending Skills for 2026 (The "Xanadu" & "Washington DC" Era)
ServiceNow's latest releases (Washington DC & Xanadu) have pivoted hard to Generative AI. If you want to look cutting-edge, these are the keywords to add now.
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Generative AI | Generative AI Controller, Now Assist, Controller for Flow Designer, Virtual Agent LLM Integration |
| Latest Releases | Xanadu Release, Washington DC Release, WSD (Workplace Service Delivery), Next Experience |
| Automation | Process Mining, RPA Hub, Document Intelligence (DocIntel), Automation Engine |
Pro Tip: "Now Assist" is the branding for their GenAI suite. Mentioning "Configured Now Assist for ITSM" is significantly more powerful than just "AI experience."
Universal ServiceNow Keywords (Must-Haves)
Every ServiceNow resume - whether Admin, Dev, or Architect - must include these foundational terms.
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Core Platform | Now Platform, CMDB (Configuration Management Database), CSDM (Common Service Data Model), Knowledge Management, Service Catalog |
| Administration | ACLs (Access Control Lists), Update Sets, User Administration, Groups & Roles, Import Sets, Transform Maps |
| Automation | Flow Designer, Workflow Editor (Legacy), Process Automation, Integration Hub, Virtual Agent |
| Reporting | Performance Analytics, Dashboards, Report Builder, Database Views |
| UI/UX | Service Portal, Next Experience (Polaris), Workspace, UI Builder |
Pro Tip: "CSDM" is a huge buzzword right now. If you understand the Common Service Data Model, make sure that keyword is prominent. It shows you understand data architecture, not just form configuration.
Functional Consultant Keywords (By Workflow)
Recruiters recruit by workflow. If you are applying for an HR role, your ITSM keywords won't help you rank.
ITSM (IT Service Management) Keywords
The bread and butter of ServiceNow.
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Processes | Incident Management, Problem Management, Change Management, Request Fulfillment, Service Level Management (SLA/OLA) |
| Features | Major Incident Workbench, Change Advisory Board (CAB) Workbench, Walk-up Experience, On-Call Scheduling |
| Standards | ITIL v4, ITSM Best Practices |
ITOM (IT Operations Management) Keywords
High demand for 2026.
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Discovery | Horizontal Discovery, Discovery Patterns, Probes & Sensors, MID Server Configuration, IP Ranges |
| Mapping & Health | Service Mapping, Event Management, Operational Intelligence, Tag-Based Mapping |
| Cloud | Cloud Provisioning and Governance, Azure/AWS Integration |
HRSD (HR Service Delivery) Keywords
The fastest-growing module.
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Core HR | Employee Center, HR Case Management, HR Criteria, User Criteria, HR Profiles |
| Functionality | Lifecycle Events (Onboarding/Offboarding), Enterprise Onboarding, Employee Document Management |
| Security | COE (Center of Excellence), HR Services, Restricted Caller Access |
👉 Missing critical module keywords?
Don't let a missing "Lifecycle Events" keyword cost you an HRSD interview.
Technical Keywords (Developers & Architects)
If you are a Developer, listing "Scripting" is not enough. You need to be specific about where and how you script.
ServiceNow Development Keywords
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Server-Side | Business Rules, Script Includes, GlideRecord, GlideSystem (gs), GlideAggregate, Scheduled Jobs |
| Client-Side | Client Scripts (OnLoad, OnChange, OnSubmit), UI Policies, UI Actions, GlideAjax, GlideForm (g_form) |
| Integrations | REST API, SOAP, Import Sets, MID Server Scripting, webhooks, JSON, OAuth 2.0 |
| Portal/UI | AngularJS, HTML5, CSS3, SCSS, Widgets, Bootstrap, SP Widgets |
Certification Acronyms
Always list both the acronym and the full name.
- CSA: Certified System Administrator
- CAD: Certified Application Developer
- CIS-ITSM: Certified Implementation Specialist - ITSM
- CIS-HR: Certified Implementation Specialist - HRSD
- CIS-Disco: Certified Implementation Specialist - Discovery
Resume Examples: Weak vs. Strong
Recruiters hate generic bullets. Use the Action + Context + Result formula.
Example 1: ServiceNow Administrator
❌ Weak (Task-based):
- Created users and groups.
- Managed tickets in the system.
- Built reports for management.
✅ Strong (Result-based & Keyword-Rich):
- Administered a ServiceNow instance for 5,000+ users, managing ACLs, Groups, and Roles to ensure strict security compliance.
- Automated manual onboarding tasks using Flow Designer and Integration Hub, reducing ticket resolution time by 30%.
- Configured Dashboards and Performance Analytics widgets to provide C-level visibility into SLA breaches.
Example 2: ServiceNow Developer
❌ Weak:
- Wrote scripts for the platform.
- Customized the portal.
- Fixed bugs in workflows.
✅ Strong:
- Developed complex Script Includes and Business Rules to support custom application logic, optimizing GlideRecord queries for performance.
- Built a custom Service Portal widget using AngularJS and HTML/CSS, improving the employee self-service experience.
- Integrated ServiceNow with Jira using REST API and Integration Hub Spoke, enabling real-time sync between DevOps and Support teams.
FAQ: ServiceNow Resume Questions
Should I list "JavaScript" if I am just an Admin?
Yes. Even as an admin, being able to read a background script or understand a condition field requires basic logic. It makes you a "Technical Admin" vs. a data entry clerk.
What is the specific keyword for "Polaris"?
The official term is now Next Experience. However, many JDs still use "Polaris" or "Now Experience". It is safe to list "Next Experience (Polaris UI)" to cover both bases.
How do I handle multiple modules?
If you are a generalist, create a "Functional Expertise" section in your skills list:
- Functional Expertise: ITSM, CSM, ITBM, GRC. This allows the ATS to pick up the acronyms without you needing to write a bullet point for every single one.
Is "ITIL" still relevant?
100%. ServiceNow is built on ITIL frameworks. "ITIL v4 Certified" is still a massive green flag for recruiters.
Related Resources
- Resume Keywords Master List: Browse keywords for other tech roles.
- Salesforce Administrator Resume Keywords: Relevant if you work in cross-platform CRM environments.
- IT Resume Keywords: Broader keywords for General IT support roles.
- Project Manager Resume Keywords: For ServiceNow Engagement Managers.
- Free ATS Resume Scanner: Test if your resume is readable by legacy ATS systems.
Is your resume ready for the Now Platform?
Don't let a missing "Flow Designer" keyword block you from the best contracts.
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