He finished secondary education in 1979, and briefly studied law, then business administration at the Norwegian School of Management.
From 1982 to 1984 he worked in the party newspaper Fremskritt from 1982 to 1984, returning as editor from 1987 to 1993.
He served as a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway for the Progress Party from Oslo during the term 1985–1989, and was elected in 1989.
[2] Skjervengen had been criticized by Carl I. Hagen from the rostrum at the national convention.
[4] Skjervengen has also been a board member for the European Movement in Norway from 1992 to 1993 the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Norway from 1995 to 1997, Global Money Games from 1999 to 2000 and Oslo Port Authority from 2003.