Finding Your First Job As A Scrum Master
There’s no doubt that the Scrum Master role has been in the spotlight lately, even being named one of the top 10 most promising careers. This has garnered so much attention that the role has even begun to attract those from outside of the technology industry. In fact, several individuals have recently reached out to me expressing interest in breaking into the Scrum Master role without experience as part of an agile team or even in technology, in general. If you would love to break into the Scrum Master role but simply don’t have the experience, then don’t despair...finding your first job as a Scrum Master may be easier than you think.
Getting Certified
For better or worse, holding at least an entry level Scrum Master certification is a prerequisite for almost any Scrum Master position today. While the value that some certifications yield may be debatable, their requirement is omnipresent in almost every Scrum Master job posting. Luckily, the surge in demand for these certifications has resulted in several different options for finding the certification path that’s right for you. The two most dominant options are the Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM) certification offered by Scrum Alliance® and the Professional Scrum Master (PSM) certification offered by Scrum.org. Both certifications are based on the Scrum Guide, which is the standard reference point for learning the Scrum framework, and both certifications offer paths towards more advanced certifications beyond the entry level certification.
The major difference in these certifications is how they’re earned. To earn the Certified ScrumMaster certification you must attend a two-day in person training class offered by a Certified Scrum Trainer, who is licensed by Scrum Alliance. After completing this class you will be eligible to attempt a certification exam which will allow you to earn the Certified ScrumMaster® certification.
On the other hand, while similar two-day in person training classes are offered by Scrum.org licensed Professional Scrum Trainers, the attendance of such a class is not a mandatory prerequisite before attempting Scrum.org’s own Professional Scrum Master certification exam.
Preparing For The Exam
The option to purchase a Professional Scrum Master certification attempt directly from Scrum.org without the need to incur the cost of attending a live class makes this path a very attractive option for those who are seeking a more economical option to certification or for those who simply do not have access to live training in their local area. Be aware, however, that Scrum.org’s exams can be quite rigorous and are not for the faint of heart. The Scrum.org training courses are of very high value, so if you’re considering attempting the Professional Scrum Master exam without the benefit of attending one then you’ll want to take a few steps to prepare yourself.
As a first step, you’ll want to take some time to review the Scrum Guide in depth to make sure that you understand the rules of the Scrum framework. In addition, you’ll also want to familiarize yourself with what is actually part of the Scrum framework versus what complementary practices you may have simply attributed to the Scrum framework. For example, are Story Points part of the Scrum framework? If you think that they are then you may need to spend some time reviewing the Scrum Guide.
Next, you’ll want practice the Open Assessments that are available for free on Scrum.org’s website. While the assessment questions on the actual exam tend to be more difficult than those found on the Open Assessments, practicing the Open Assessments will help you familiarize yourself with the language and format of the questions that you’ll encounter on the actual exam. Note that Scrum.org makes several different Open Assessments available so you’ll want to consult the PSM I certification page to learn which Open Assessments will be the most helpful for preparing you for your certification.
Finally, you’ll want to take some time to understand how the rules of the Scrum framework play out in practice. A great place to start is Pluralsight’s Using the Scrum Framework Learning Path, which will introduce you to not only the mechanics of the Scrum framework, but also to how those mechanics can be applied inside of your team. Many budding Scrum Masters have used this path to successfully prepare for earning their PSM I certification and you’re likely to find value in it, as well.
Sharing Your Thoughts
Once you’ve learned the basics of the Scrum framework then it’s time to start sharing your thoughts on Scrum with the world. A great way to do this is with your own blog where you can share your evolving thoughts on the Scrum framework and how it can help teams be more effective. If you don’t yet have thoughts on how Scrum can help teams then don’t worry, simply using the blog to document your own learning process as you learn more about the Scrum framework can be a great first step.
You can even use this as a platform to share your thoughts on any agile-related books that you’ve read or to work through open questions that you may still have about the Scrum framework. Whatever the content is, you’ll be amazed at how simply taking the time to write and formulate your thoughts will help you better crystalize your own understanding of Scrum. In fact, simply documenting your own experience earning one of the certifications mentioned above can be a great starting point.
There are a lot of options available for starting a blog so don’t let a lack of experience with blogging stop you from doing so. While you may think of a blogging as hosting and managing your own blog at your own domain, third party publishing sites such as LinkedIn and Medium can making the process of starting your own blog nearly instantaneous. These third party platforms can also remove the headaches that inevitably come with having to manage your own platform and will even give you immediate access to an interested audience rather than having to build a following from the ground up.
But speaking of audience, remember that the size of your audience isn’t important. Your blog is an opportunity for you to showcase your thoughts and passion regarding the Scrum framework and the Scrum Master role. Organizations that are hiring Scrum Masters will be most impressed with your passion for your craft and your initiative to share that passion with the world, not by the size of your audience.
Meeting People
More than anything else, the Scrum Master role is about interacting with people, and there’s no better way to do that then to find like-minded individuals who share your passion for Scrum. Sometimes, simply knowing the right individual at an organization is all it takes for you to get your chance at your first Scrum Master position. But where do you find these individuals?
Start with where they tend to gather. A great starting point is attending the agile related sessions at small regional conferences. Many agile conference sessions are interactive so they can be a great opportunity to meet others in the Scrum Master role. In addition, most major cities offer agile meetups where agile practitioners can meet regularly to discuss advancements in their field. Make it a point to become a regular attendee of your local meetup and you’ll inevitably start to meet others who can help you get your big break.
But there’s actually a way to take this a step further. Many agile companies are proud of their new way of working and are happy to open their doors to others who might benefit from it. Find out which companies are the agile thought leaders in your area and reach out to those companies. Ask if they would be open to you shadowing one of their Scrum teams for a few days to learn how Scrum works in practice, similar to an unpaid internship. You’ll be surprised at how many companies are open to these types of arrangements and are more than happy to allow you to sit in on a few of their Scrum events to see their team in action.
Doing this will not only give you first-hand experience as to how the Scrum framework is often implemented in practice which you can speak to during your next interview, but the connections and friendships that you form during that time might very well lead to your first Scrum Master opportunity.
Taking That First Step
While the steps I’ve discussed above are best followed in the order that they’re presented they can be taken in whatever order makes the most sense for you. For example, if you have the opportunity to spend time with a high-performing Scrum team before you’ve earned your certification then certainly don’t let the lack of a certification stop you from doing so.
What’s important is that you take the first step that’s right for you and helps you come one step closer to fulfilling your dreams of becoming a great Scrum Master.