Use This Resume Example to Write a Great Scrum Master Resume

How To Write a Great Scrum Master Resume

Scrum masters are, as the name suggests, masters of project management, product development, release planning, and so much more. With such a range of responsibilities, you may be unsure how to fit all of your experience onto a single-page resume.

With some help from our scrum master resume example, you’ll be able to create a resume that showcases your skills in the best way possible. This guide will explain:

• What to include in your scrum master resume
• How to structure your scrum master resume
• The best tips for scrum master resume writing

What to Highlight on a Scrum Master Resume

The role of scrum master comes with a lot of responsibility. As such, potential employers will be most interested in your previous experience. This doesn’t have to be in paid employment. If you’re applying to an entry-level role, talk about any internship experience you have.

Specifically, you should focus on your expertise in agile methodologies, including important processes like sprint planning, daily scrum meetings and process improvement. Scrum masters should also be strong leaders, so highlight any team management experience.

Structure of a Scrum Master Resume

The structure of your resume will vary depending on your chosen resume format. There are three options:

1. Chronological focuses on work experience.
2. Functional focuses on skills.
3. Combination focuses on work experience and skills.

If you already have several years of experience as a scrum master, the chronological format will work best. Otherwise, consider the combination format. The scrum master resume sample below uses the chronological format, but all of these sections will be present in any format you choose – just in different order.

Header

Add your contact details to the header at the top of the page. Include your full name, phone number, professional email address, and LinkedIn profile link (if available) in this section. Present the information clearly so that the hiring manager can easily contact you should they wish to progress your application.

Resume summary or objective

A resume summary is a brief outline of your key skills and experiences. A resume objective is similar, but it includes a statement of your career goals. While a resume objective suits entry-level positions, a resume summary is preferable if you already have some experience as a scrum master.

Skills

The skills section is where you list your key areas of expertise. Tailor this section to the role by including some of the skills mentioned in the job description.

The role of scrum master draws on a combination of soft skills and hard skills. Let’s look at some soft skills you might include on your resume:

• Project management
• Leadership 
• Communication 
• Interpersonal skills
• Problem-solving 

Hard skills are role-specific and should focus on agile development practices and tools. Here are some examples:

• Agile frameworks such as Kanban
• Agile software such as Jira and Confluence
• Agile coaching

The hard skills you choose to include will also vary depending on the type of product the employer is developing. For example, if the role revolves around software development, you should list some technical skills linked to this area such as SQL programming.

Work history

In the work experience section, run through previous job titles you’ve held (up to the past 10 years) in reverse chronological order, with most recent job first. For each position, pick out tasks and accomplishments that are relevant to the role of scrum master and list them in bullet points.

If you lack relevant experience working within an agile team, focus on tasks that demonstrate transferable skills like project management and teamwork. Where possible, use specific examples and quantifiable metrics to make your points more credible.

Education

The education section is an important part of the scrum master resume. Include your bachelor’s degree and any relevant certifications, such as:

• CSM (Certified ScrumMaster)
• PSM (Professional Scrum Master)
• PMP (Project Management Professional)

Do's and Don’ts for a Scrum Master Resume

Use the tips below to write the perfect resume.

Do:

• Use quantifiable metrics in your work history section. Statistics and performance data provide deeper insight into your abilities as a scrum master.
• Tailor your resume to the job description. With each position you apply to, adapt your resume summary, work history and skills sections to address the needs of the role.
• Use a resume builder. Our Resume Builder is packed with resume templates to help with the formatting and presentation of your resume.

Don’t:

• Include irrelevant details. Keep the focus on the scrum methodology. Experience with linear methodologies like waterfall and PSP will do you no favors.
• Go overboard in the skills section. It’s best to focus on a handful of highly relevant technical skills rather than try to cover all bases.
• Use passive language. In your work history section, use action verbs like “led,” “developed,” and “organized” rather than “was tasked with” to hook the recruiter’s interest.