ServiceNow Business Analyst Interview Questions + Guide in 2024

ServiceNow is a rapidly growing American software company specializing in cloud-based platforms and solutions that manage digital workflows for enterprises. Currently, ServiceNow serves most Fortune 500® companies, underscoring its substantial.

Joining ServiceNow as a Business Analyst presents an opportunity to be part of an innovative team driving strategic, data-driven decision-making processes. This role demands strong data analysis, SQL, financial modeling, and Power BI competencies, focusing on optimizing Treasury and business operations. With a commitment to an inclusive workplace culture, ServiceNow encourages diverse candidates to apply and bring their unique perspectives to the team. Explore our guide to navigate the interview process, commonly asked questions, and essential tips for a successful application.

Are you ready to tackle complex analytical problems and influence positive changes in a fast-paced environment? In this guide, we’ll tackle how they conduct their data science interviews and commonly asked ServiceNow business analyst interview questions to help you prepare better.

The interview process usually depends on the role and seniority; however, you can expect the following on a ServiceNow business analyst interview:

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

If your CV is shortlisted, you will be contacted by a recruiter from ServiceNow’s Talent Acquisition Team. The recruiter will verify key details about your experience and skill level during this initial call. In addition, behavioral questions may be part of the screening.

Occasionally, the hiring manager might join the screening call to discuss the role and the company in more detail. They may also engage in high-level technical and behavioral discussions.

This recruiter call typically takes about 30 minutes.

Technical Virtual Interview

Upon successfully clearing the recruiter round, you will be invited to the technical screening. This interview is usually conducted virtually and includes videoconferencing and screen sharing. The one-hour interview may cover questions related to SQL, PowerBI, data analysis, and case studies.

For the Business Analyst role, you might be required to complete take-home assignments concerning product metrics, analytics, and data visualization. Additionally, your skills in hypothesis testing and statistics could be tested.

Depending on the position’s seniority, you may face case studies and real-scenario problem-solving questions.

Onsite Interview Rounds

After a second recruiter call explaining the next steps, you will be invited to the ServiceNow office’s onsite interview loop. Multiple in-person interview rounds will involve team members, directors, and supervisors.

Throughout these interviews, your technical capabilities, including your proficiency with SQL, data analysis tools like PowerBI, and problem-solving skills, will be evaluated.

If take-home exercises were assigned, you might also need to present your findings during the onsite interviews.

Typically, interviews at ServiceNow vary by role and team, but commonly, Business Analyst interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

1. Would you think there was anything fishy about the results of an A/B test with 20 variants?

Your manager ran an A/B test with 20 different variants and found one significant result. Would you suspect any issues with these results?

2. How would you set up an A/B test to optimize button color and position for higher click-through rates?

A team wants to A/B test changes in a sign-up funnel, such as changing a button from red to blue and/or moving it from the top to the bottom of the page. How would you design this test?

3. What would you do if friend requests on Facebook are down 10%?

A product manager at Facebook reports a 10% decrease in friend requests. What steps would you take to address this issue?

4. Why might the number of job applicants be decreasing while job postings remain constant?

You observe that the number of job postings per day has remained stable, but the number of applicants has steadily decreased. What could be causing this trend?

5. What are the drawbacks of the given student test score datasets, and how would you reformat them for better analysis?

You have data on student test scores in two different layouts. What are the drawbacks of these formats, and what changes would you make to improve their usefulness for analysis? Additionally, describe common problems in “messy” datasets.

6. Write a SQL query to select the 2nd highest salary in the engineering department.

Write an SQL query to select the second-highest salary in the engineering department. If more than one person shares the highest salary, the query should select the next highest salary.

7. Write a function to merge two sorted lists into one sorted list.

Write a function to merge two sorted lists into one sorted list. Bonus: What’s the time complexity?

8. Write a function missing_number to find the missing number in an array.

You have an array of integers, nums of length n spanning 0 to n with one missing. Write a function missing_number that returns the missing number in the array. Complexity of (O(n)) required.

9. Write a function precision_recall to calculate precision and recall metrics from a 2-D matrix.

Given a 2-D matrix P of predicted and actual values, write a function precision_recall to calculate precision and recall metrics. Return the ordered pair (precision, recall).

10. Write a function to search for a target value in a rotated sorted array.

Suppose an array sorted in ascending order is rotated at some pivot unknown to you beforehand. You are given a target value to search. If the value is in the array, then return its index; otherwise, return -1. Bonus: Your algorithm’s runtime complexity should be in the order of (O(\log n)).

11. How would you evaluate whether using a decision tree algorithm is the correct model for predicting loan repayment?

You are tasked with building a decision tree model to predict whether a borrower will repay a personal loan. How would you evaluate the suitability of a decision tree algorithm for this problem?

12. How would you evaluate the performance of a decision tree model before and after deployment?

If you decide to use a decision tree model, how would you assess its performance both before deployment and after it is in use?

13. How does random forest generate the forest, and why use it over logistic regression?

Explain how a random forest algorithm generates its forest. Additionally, discuss why you might choose random forest over logistic regression for certain problems.

14. When would you use a bagging algorithm versus a boosting algorithm?

Compare two machine learning algorithms. In which scenarios would you prefer a bagging algorithm over a boosting algorithm? Provide examples of the tradeoffs between the two.

15. How would you justify the complexity of a neural network model to non-technical stakeholders?

Suppose your manager asks you to build a neural network model to solve a business problem. How would you justify the complexity of the model and explain its predictions to non-technical stakeholders?

16. What metrics would you use to track the accuracy and validity of a spam classifier?

You are tasked with building a spam classifier for emails. After creating a V1 of the model, what metrics would you use to track its accuracy and validity?

17. Is this a fair coin?

You flip a coin 10 times, and it comes up tails 8 times and heads twice. Based on this outcome, determine if the coin is fair.

18. How do you write a function to calculate sample variance?

Write a function that outputs the sample variance given a list of integers. Round the result to 2 decimal places. Example input: test_list = [6, 7, 3, 9, 10, 15]. Example output: get_variance(test_list) -> 13.89.

19. How do you find the median in (O(1)) time and space?

Given a list of sorted integers where more than 50% of the list is the same repeating integer, write a function to return the median value in (O(1)) computational time and space. Example input: li = [1,2,2]. Example output: median(li) -> 2.

Here are some quick tips on how you can ace your ServiceNow business analyst interview:

1. Emphasize Your Technical Skills: ServiceNow values candidates who have strong technical skills, particularly in SQL, PowerBI, and data analysis. Your ability to showcase these in the interview could make a significant difference.

2. Understand the Company: Express enthusiasm about working for ServiceNow, especially highlighting your knowledge about the company’s products and the founder’s history. Showing that you are well-informed and excited about the company’s future can leave a positive impression.

3. Prepare for Behavioral Questions: Many candidates noted that behavioral questions were a significant part of the interview process. Reflect on your past experiences and be ready to discuss how you’ve handled different situations and delivered results.

What is the average salary for a Business Analyst at ServiceNow?

What is the company culture like at ServiceNow?

ServiceNow prides itself on fostering an innovative and inclusive environment. The company values creativity, collaboration, and diversity. Employees are encouraged to think big, support one another, and strive toward common goals. The company promotes work-life balance and provides ample opportunities for career growth.

What kind of work will I do as a Business Analyst at ServiceNow?

As a Business Analyst at ServiceNow, you will analyze financial data, design and develop dashboards, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and contribute to strategic decision-making processes. You’ll be involved in process improvements, workflow automation, forecasting, and trend analysis, ensuring adherence to data governance standards.

What are the key qualifications for a Business Analyst role at ServiceNow?

Candidates should have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business Analytics, Data Science, or a related field. Relevant experience in business analytics, finance, and data science is crucial. Proficiency in data analytics tools like Power BI and knowledge of SQL are preferred. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and excellent communication skills are essential for this role.

If you’re considering a Business Analyst position at ServiceNow, it’s crucial to be fully prepared for an extensive and dynamic interview process.

For more insights and comprehensive preparation, check out our dedicated ServiceNow Interview Guide. At Interview Query, we equip you with the tools and knowledge to navigate the unique challenges of ServiceNow’s interview process, ensuring you put your best foot forward.

Good luck with your interview!