How To Become A Scrum Master

The world of technology has opened up a range of brand new job opportunities that we are only getting to grips with now. As software continues to eat the world and investment in these sectors grow, it creates more direct and indirect jobs. To ensure the software is deployed in a manner that makes sense and that workflows are constructive and roadblocks are handled effectively, someone needs to conduct software development.

In the ideal software development environment, these responsibilities fall on project managers known as scrum masters.

A scrum master is someone who utilises the scrum framework to provide a healthy foundation for a workplace’s team to succeed. It requires you to be familiar with agile and scrum frameworks and use your learned skills to benefit others. If such a line of work sounds intriguing to you, there are a series of steps you can follow to embark on this new career path.

Learn about scrum

To become a scrum master, you need to understand the Scrum framework, not a methodology. Instead, it’s a scientific method of empiricism for self-organisation and problem-solving.

It incorporates scrum values like courage, commitment, openness, focus, and respect and how these relate to a line of business, primarily software development. Fortunately, when you complete a scrum certification, you learn all about this framework and its intricacies to set you up for success.

Choose a certification

Once you’ve learned what a scrum is and how it can be used in a business environment, you can choose your certification type. There are several certification types to choose from, including Professional Scrum Master, Certified Scrum Master, and Scrum Master.

All have different levels of responsibilities and require various levels of investment. This leads you to enrol in a course that sets you on a trajectory to a qualification.

Enrol in a course

The more you learn about scrum, the more confident you can be that this career move is for you. All that’s left to do now is enrol in a course that aligns with your goals. Depending on the type of course in which you register, you can learn about:

• Scrum roles
• Sprint and increment
• Sprint planning
• Scrum events
• Core competencies
• Daily scrum
• and more

Understand your course requirements

For the best chance of success, it’s essential to know what you’re signing up for when picking a course. You may know you’re interested in a scrum career, but the course requirements can be what helps you to take that final step towards course enrollment.

For example, some scrum courses require a 16-hour investment over two days to learn course content. You will then need to take an exam with a time limit. Upon passing, you may have to accept a license agreement. Your certificate will then be valid for two years.

How to get a job as a scrum master

Certified scrum masters are more than qualified for their roles, but landing that first job can be hard work. The first step can highlight your relevant experience, even if it doesn’t necessarily relate to scrum itself. For example, you may have experience running a traditional project. You have a sound base to work from and can apply your newfound Scrum skills.

Make sure you mention this in as many of your job applications and resumes as possible. You may also see value in seeking out opportunities with your current employer and even trying volunteer positions to gain experience and show your worth.

The importance of a scrum master

As a scrum master, you get to protect your team from distractions and interruptions, form a clear path to success, and deliver value. Getting to that point can require significant investment, but the eventual rewards can make it all worth your while.

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Tags: Scrum Master, Job , Career