Scrum Master Resume Examples, Template, and Resume Tips

Scrum Master Resume Examples, Template, and Resume Tips For several years now, the Scrum Master has been one of the most sought after professionals in the IT industry, and software development in particular. A survey done by Glassdoor also shows that it is among the 25 highest paying jobs in the United States.Despite all this demand for Scrum Masters, you have sent out applications to almost 100 companies looking for a Scrum Master, but you have never heard back from any of them. What could be the problem?If you want to start hearing back from recruiters and hiring managers and getting invited to job interviews, you need to show them that you are more qualified than the other candidates you are competing against.But how do you do this if you are not getting to the interview stage?The secret lies in your resume.You need to create a precise yet high quality Scrum Master resume that shows you in the most favorable light.This can be a bit of a challenge, because you need to summarize all your skills, qualifications and experience within a pag e or two, and you have to do this without watering down your expertise.So, how do you do it?To come up with a great Scrum Master resume, you first need to understand what hiring managers are looking for in a Scrum Master resume. In most cases, they want to find out the following:Whether you are certified or notThe amount of experience you have working as a Scrum MasterThe kind of experience you have gained as a Scrum Master. This involves the kind of projects you have worked on and the industries you have experience in.Now that you know what hiring managers are looking for in your resume, let’s take a look at how to provide this information in the best way possible.First, we will start by looking at some examples of exceptional Scrum Master resumes to give you an idea of the kind of resume you need to come up with.Don’t forget, if you want to save time, you can use our resume builder to create your Scrum Master resume in less than five minutes.It’s quite easy to use.All you ne ed to do is to choose a template, add the content and the resume builder will generate an awesome resume for you with one click.EXCEPTIONAL SCRUM MASTER RESUME EXAMPLESSenior Agile Scrum Master Resume Sample Right Entry Level Scrum Master Resume Sample Right Create your own resumeNow that you know what a great Scrum Master resume looks like, let’s take a look at how to create a similar resume and start getting job interview invitations and job offers.BEST SCRUM MASTER RESUME FORMATWhen creating your Scrum Master resume, you should opt for the reverse-chronological resume format.This is the best format for resumes, because it allows you to showcase your greatest achievements first.Most recruiters and hiring managers also prefer the reverse-chronological format, because it makes it easier for them to find the information they are looking for, and makes it easier for them to gauge your current skill level at a glance.Don’t forget that recruiters have to look at dozens, sometimes hundreds of resumes in a day, and the easier you make it for them, the higher chances you have of your resume getting more than a cursory glance.To make your resume even more appealing to the eye, you should opt for a simple layout, such as a burn down chart, w ith enough white space, professional resume fonts, and effective, attention-grabbing headings. Avoid excessively flashy layouts or fonts.Ideally, your resume should be just one page long.If you cannot fit all the relevant skills, qualifications, and experience into a single page, make sure it doesn’t exceed two pages.Anything more than that can negatively impact your application, because you are effectively making the hiring manager’s job more difficult, and therefore there’s a high chance that they will not read your resume to the end.Having a long resume also increases the likelihood of including irrelevant information.NAILING THE PERSONAL INFO SECTION OF YOUR SCRUM MASTER RESUMEThe first thing your Scrum Master resume needs to do is to let the recruiter or hiring manager know who you are, what you do, and how to get in touch with you.Therefore, in the personal information section, which should be the first section of your resume, you should include your full name, your prof essional title, your phone number, and your professional email address.Below is an example of how to write a great personal info section.Personal information sectionAmir Arison Scrum Master, PSM II 816-315-0754 Arison.amir@gmail.com LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/amirarison RightWhen writing the personal information section, make sure to use your official names as they appear on your driving license.Avoid using any nicknames, short forms of your name, or any unofficial names. In addition, you should avoid funny email addresses like:scrumwhiz570@hotmail.com WrongStick to professional email addresses. A good format to use is:FirstnameLastname@provider.com RightYou can never go wrong with this format.When writing the personal information section, it is also advisable to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, considering that 87% of recruiters research a candidate on LinkedIn before inviting them to an interview. Source: LeadswamiYou can check out this article to learn more about how to create a great LinkedIn profile.If you have a portfolio website, you should also include it in the personal information section of your Scrum Master resume.CAPTURE ATTENTION WITH A GREAT RESUME SUMMARY OR RESUME OBJECTIVEI have some bad news. Recruiters do not read most resumes for more than seven seconds. Shocking, right? If you wondering how you can convince a hiring manager to hire you in seven seconds, the truth is that you can’t.Fortunately, you can get them interested enough that they will look at your Scrum Master resume for more than seven seconds. To do this, you need a well written resume summary or resume objective.So, what’s the difference between the two, and which one should you use in your Scrum Master resume? If you are an experienced Scrum Master with some achievements, you should use a resume summary highlighting this experience.If you are an entry-level Scrum Master without lots of exper ience, you should use a resume objective to show your passion in the field.During the seven seconds within which most resumes are discarded, the recruiters and hiring managers are looking for something specific.If you can show it to them, they’ll keep reading your resume, giving you a chance to now wow them with all your skills and experience. Therefore, find out what they are looking for (from the job description) and include it in your resume summary or objective.For instance, if the job description says that they are looking for someone with 3 years’ experience, you should include this in your resume summary.If they are looking for a certified Scrum Master, let them know. If they see that you have what they are looking for, they’ll proceed to check out other areas of your resume. If they don’t see it, your resume will be on a quick trip to the paper shredder.Below is an example of how NOT to write a resume summary:SummaryExperienced and hardworking Scrum Master. Handled a ll the Scrum Master tasks at Company XYZ, including leading scrum teams, planning sprints, coaching the team, and delivering products. WrongBelow is the RIGHT way to write a great resume summary:SummaryCertified Scrum Master with over 5 years’ experience leading scrum teams. Helped Company XYZ boost earnings by 40% within two years. Helped Company ABC save over $1 million by delivering over 20 products at an average of 15% under budget. RightNote how the above resume summary shows the candidate’s experience, that the candidate is certified, and gives a quantifiable record of the candidate’s achievements.Well, what if you do not have lots of experience as a Scrum Master? In this case, you should use a resume objective. Below is an example of the RIGHT way to write a great resume objective:SummaryPassionate entry-level Scrum Master. Have been part of several scrum teams and played the role of acting Scrum Master on a couple of occasions. Conversant with the Agile environment, having worked as a software developer for 4 years. RightWhen writing a resume summary or objective, keep it short and to the point. Do not include all your skills here.Instead, include two or three of the most relevant skills according to what the recruiter is looking for.HIGHLIGHTING YOUR CERTIFICATIONS ON A SCRUM MASTER RESUMEWhile it is not absolutely necessary to be certified in order to get work as a Scrum Master, it will give you a great advantage.Actually, most recruiters will make it clear that they are looking for a certified Scrum Master, and therefore you should get certified, if you haven’t already.If you are certified, it is advisable to include your certifications just below the resume summary or objective. You should also include your certification in the professional title in the personal information section of your Scrum Master resume. This way, it will be clear to the recruiter that you are certified right from the start.The most important certifications for Scr um Master are the Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I), the Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II) and Professional Scrum Master III (PSM III). Other certifications that might enhance your Scrum Master resume include the Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM), Project Management Institute â€" Agile Certified Professional (PMI-ACP), Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM), and so on.DESCRIBING YOUR SCRUM MASTER EXPERIENCEExperience is one of the most important things when it comes to getting a job as a Scrum Master, even more important than education or certification.Imagine the following situation. The organization looking for a Scrum Master has been using scrum for a while now.They have customized scrum to what works best for them and are very reliant on it. Unfortunately, their Scrum Master just quit, leaving the organization devastated.When they advertised an open Scrum Master position, this company is looking for an experienced Scrum Maste r who is as good as or better than the one who just left. One who will easily pick up where the other one left, without having to undergo months of training.Therefore, you need to show them that you have enough experience to fill the shoes of their previous Scrum Master.Most importantly, they want to know your team management experience, your experience working with cross-functional teams, your experience with geo-distributed teams, your program management experience, your experience as a coach, and whether or not you were a scrum owner.Below is an example of the RIGHT way to write an exceptional experience section in a Scrum Master resume: RightNow, compare that to the following, which is how NOT to write the experience section on your Scrum Master resume: WrongAs you can see, both examples refer to the same experience, but the first one does a great job of showing that the candidate can fit the shoes of the previous Scrum Master, while the second does not do much to convince the hiring manager about the candidate’s experience.Well, what if you are an entry level Scrum Master who has no previous experience? Are you tempted to write something like this?ExperienceI’m yet to gain experience since I am yet to get my first official Scrum Master job. However, I am highly skilled, very passionate, and willing to apply my skills and gain experience.Other ExperienceSoftware Developer WrongGood luck hearing back from the recruiter with such an experience section. Just because you have never worked as a Scrum Master before does not mean that you have no relevant experience.You have probably worked in the same industry you are applying for, been part of a Scrum team, helped facilitate Scrum projects, led a self-organizing team, or worked in a position where you demonstrated your skills as a collaborator or good communicator.While none of the above is Scrum Master experience, it is still experience that can help you perform better in a Scrum Master position, and therefore, it is relevant to the job. Listing such experience is a lot better than saying that you have no experience.Below is an example of the RIGHT way to write the experience section of your Scrum Master resume is you have no experience as a Scrum Master. RightSHOULD YOU INCLUDE THE EDUCATION SECTION IN YOUR SCRUM MASTER RESUME?As a Scrum Master, you already know that there’s no bachelor’s degree you need to take in order to become a Scrum Master. So, is it even necessary to include the education section in a Scrum Master resume?While you don’t need a college degree to become a Scrum Master, it is still a good idea to include your education in your resume. Done well, it can increase your chances of getting hired.If you want this section to be effective, you should not only talk about what school you attended, the year and the degree, but also other relevant achievements you got while you were there.Below is an example of the RIGHT way to right the education section in a Scrum Master resume. RightSuch an education sections shows you have been interested in Scrum since day one, and will increase your chances of getting invited for the interview.SHOWCASING YOUR SKILLS AS A SCRUM MASTERConsidering that there is no bachelor’s degree that you can take to become a Scrum Master, your greatest chances of being hired as a Scrum Master are determined by two things. Your experience, which we discussed earlier, and your skills.However, this does not mean that you should google the skills required of a Scrum Master and fill them on your resume. This will get you nowhere.When employers put up a job advertisement, in most cases, they are looking for a specific set of skills. Fortunately, most employers will list these skills in the job ad.Therefore, when writing your resume, you should list the skills that the employer is interested in, even if you might have other skills.For instance, let’s assume that the job ad reads something like this:We are looking for a certified Scrum Mas ter with the following skills: Kanban, Automation, and Idea Systems.In such a case, here is the WRONG way to list your skills when applying to the above job:SkillsAgile CoachingServant LeadershipGood communicationInterpersonal skillsKanbanTime managementAutomationGitHubIdea SystemsAgile planningConflict resolutionSprint planningUser storiesForecasting WrongThe problem with that approach is that it does not focus on the skills the recruiter is interested in.Even if the skills the recruiter is looking for appear there, this looks like a spray and pray approach, where you list every skill and hope that the skills the recruiter is looking for are among them. In addition, it does not appear genuine, because it’s very unlikely that one candidate will be good at all those skills.Instead of using the spray and pray approach, you should instead focus on a small number of skills that the employer is interested in.Better yet, instead of simply listing the skills, you can take it a notch hig her and prove that you indeed have the skills. Here’s how to do it.SkillsAutomation: Drove the adoption of automation across the company and saved the company $500,000.Kanban: Reduced cycle time by 40% using Kanban.Idea Systems: Implemented a Lean Idea System that improved idea implementation by 50%.Management skills: Managed 3 cross-functional team to deliver 3 projects. RightThe above candidate focused on the most important skills â€" those that the recruiter is looking for. In addition, they also provided proof to back their claims.When listing your skills, it is advisable to include both hard and soft skills, because as a Scrum Master, not only do you need to be technically savvy, but you also need soft skills to help you interact with your team members and ensure they get the work done.Below are some of the skills you might include on a Scrum Master resume:Soft Skills:CollaborationCommunicationEmpathyTime managementConflict resolutionDetail orientedDecision makingInterperson al skillsTeam buildingAdaptableHard Skills:Meeting facilitationAgile coachingAgile planningQuality controlServant leadershipBurndown chartsUser storiesSprint planningPM toolsBacklog managementEXTRA SECTIONS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR SCRUM MASTER RESUMEYou can stop at this point, but if you really want your resume to be outstanding, you should take it a step further.So far, you have shown your experience, skills and education, but some of the greatest employees also have one extra thing â€" passion.Passionate Scrum Masters do not see their job as something they do in exchange for a paycheck.Instead, they love their job and are interested in everything about the job.They join associations, publish papers, volunteer, get more and more certifications, and so on.If you can show the recruiter that you are passionate about being a Scrum Master, you will increase your chances of getting hired.Below are some of the extra sections you can include in your Scrum Master resume to show your passion:Conf erences you have attended or spoken atAssociations, such as Scrum.org or Scrum AllianceHonors and AwardsProjectsPublicationsVolunteeringCommendationsExtra certificationsBelow is an example of how to include these sections in your Scrum Master resume:PUBLICATIONSWrote about Sprint Planning on publication XYZPublished an article on Servant Leadership on blog ABC RightCONFERENCESAttended the Agile 2019 ConferenceWas a panel member on the Scrum conference 2018 RightIncluding such details in your resume shows that you are a candidate who lives and breathes Scrum, and you can bet any employee would love to have such an employee.WRAPPING UPIf you follow the tips provided in this guide, you will be able to craft an exceptional Scrum Master resume and you will start hearing back from recruiters, getting invites to interviews, and even getting job offers.Like I said at the start of the guide, it’s all about selling yourself and showing potential employers why you are the best suited for t he job.If are short on time and do not want to create your Scrum Master resume from scratch, don’t forget you can use our resume builder to build your professional resume in under 5 minutes. 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