How to become A Scrum Master

An athlete defines sprints as short bursts of high-speed running. To a Scrum Master, Sprints are short projects or events of fixed length that help to periodically evaluate and adapt their team’s progress towards a goal. Scrum, an Agile project management methodology, is gaining popularity in developing complex products across enterprises. Scrum Masters, like ship engineers, aim to keep the sailing smooth by facilitating their team to improve their process and product constantly.

• Iteration Manager
• Agile Coach
• Team Coach

What do Scrum Masters do

A Scrum Master would typically need to:

• Coach the Scrum Team in the use of Agile methodology and guide them in implementing Scrum principles and best practices
• Understand and discuss the needs of Product Owners
• Collaborate with the Product Owner and development team to work towards client satisfaction
• Help the team members organise themselves and support their tasks; help them achieve maturity in working with Scrum; appreciate their progress
• Conduct daily stand-up meetings, reviews, demos, and other project-related meetings
• Encourage Scrum Events such as Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective
• Use project management tools to track your team's daily work
• Identify and solve problems and conflicts by facilitating open discussions
• Work with the Scrum and development teams to pinpoint what parts of the Agile framework are incomplete and complete them
• Collaborate with other Scrum Masters and Agile coaches within the enterprise
• Help the organisation enhance the Agile practices it follows

Scrum Masters typically work in their offices, but they may be needed on-site for certain projects. They usually use project management software and spend most of their day working on computers. They may also need to attend business calls.

You may need to travel to work at the project site or attend workshops and conferences.

The majority of Scrum Masters work regular business hours, 9 am to 5 pm, from Monday to Friday, and many work overtime, to keep on track with project deadlines and milestones.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Scrum Masters can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Scrum Masters are generally employed by: 

• IT Firms
• Computer Systems Design Companies
• Software Publishers
• Management of Companies & Enterprises

Professional associations and organisations, such as Project Management Institute (PMI), are crucial for Scrum Masters interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Getting senior management and stakeholders on board the Agile approach; lack of clarity on what managers expect the Scrum Team to deliver
• Not being a leader or boss to the team but a contributing member; taking on too much administrative work instead of delegating it; working on multiple teams
• Educating the Scrum Team about Agile principles and methodologies; helping them cope with difficulties in understanding or execution
• Helping team members overcome any reluctance to use transparent ways of working
• The need to timebox Sprints, that is, complete them in a given time frame, typically a month or less
• Ensuring that meetings stay on track; keeping them short but high in value; making sure they have a dedicated space if held in person, and are well attended
• Incorporating a change of direction of the project or an expansion of its scope
• Resolving conflicts with the Product Owner who is responsible for maximising the product value
• Ensuring that the team focuses on group goals rather than personal success
• Coping with constraints, such as people’s mindsets, conflicts, lack of clarity on what is needed, and lack of appropriate tools and technologies
• Managing distributed teams with members in different locations
• The imbalance between professional and personal life due to work pressures and long working hours to meet deadlines

Employers typically expect aspiring Scrum Masters to have adequate knowledge of Scrum values and principles. You may implement the Scrum framework in diverse projects and tasks even in your current career.

Engaging in volunteer activities at a school, sports team or non-profit to introduce and implement an Agile framework in small-scale projects will help you gain hands-on knowledge in the Scrum framework while strengthening your resume. These experiences will provide you exposure to the real world and a platform to establish critical networking connections that could give you an instant leg up and lead directly to employment. 

You may also consider connecting with professional Scrum Masters in local Agile groups or conferences. They can advise and guide you to increase your confidence and help develop exceptional skills which may help you land your dream job.

Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts working as Scrum Masters to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. 

Varying levels of qualifications are required for this role, depending on the employer. Most may be more concerned with prior experience and skills, whereas others may ask for formal qualifications.

An associate or bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering, information technology, business administration or a related field is the minimum academic qualification for aspiring Scrum Masters. Familiarising yourself with the values and principles of Agile and the Scrum frameworks would give you a competitive edge in the job market.

Aspiring Scrum Masters must demonstrate experience on the job. A college degree will help you chalk up relevant and on-the-job work experience by increasing the likelihood of job offers.

Certification demonstrates a Scrum Master’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. When acquired from an objective and reputed organisation, it can help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement, and allow you to become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) and Professional Scrum Master (PSM) accreditations are highly valued across various industries. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) are valid only for two years. To decide on an appropriate certification, you may seek help from your mentors or study job descriptions of various companies to find out about the latest trends. 

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression.

Employees with consistently high performance levels may be eligible for promotion to Scrum Coach, Product Owner or Project Manager and other senior management roles.

Candidates with the necessary skills, education and experience in project management have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Scrum Master build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

Scrum Master vs Project Manager

Scrum Masters implement Agile methodology and encourage the team to achieve mutual goals. Project Managers work within restraints such as resources, budgets and schedules and are responsible for the success or failure of the project. 

Timeboxing

Breaking down projects or tasks by fixing time slots for each and making sure to abide by them is known as timeboxing. This time management tool facilitates goal accomplishment.

What is a Sprint?

A Sprint is a Scrum Event timeboxed to the fixed duration of a month or less during which all the other proposed Scrum events and activities must be completed. There are typically no gaps between Sprints.

What is the Daily Scrum?

The Daily Scrum is a daily Scrum Event timeboxed for 15 minutes. It is meant for developers to plan work for the next 24 hours.

What is a Scrum Team?

The Scrum Team is typically a self-administered team comprising a Scrum Master, a Product Owner and Developers.

Who are Product Owners?

Product Owners play a meaningful role in the Scrum Team as they are responsible for maximising product value. They implement incremental management and convey to the developers what business and functional purposes the product is expected to fulfil.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Scrum Masters have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Scrum Master has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

Scrum teams use jargon that includes terms such as Burn Down Boards, Swarming, and Scrum of Scrums.

A Scrum Master is the professional face of a Scrum project - the liaison between the Product Owner and the Scrum Team. The role is challenging yet exciting. Although it can bring long hours and stressful days, it is rarely monotonous. If you can run a team that maintains client happiness, you will advance in your career. Fulfilling project goals brings teams together and helps members grow in experience and capabilities.

The Scrum Team brings a meaningful outlook to a product development initiative. As the Scrum Master, you must be empathetic to the needs and difficulties of your team. Being accessible to your team members will put them at ease and enable you to be a better coach. You must assess whether seek to solve problems or prioritise issues or whether they require you to facilitate an exchange of thoughts and ideas among them.