Scrum Master Resume Example
Working as a scrum master can provide a rewarding career, involving facilitating daily stand-ups and removing team impediments. A professional resume for scrum master applications will showcase your relevant skills and career achievements, to help you stand out from the crowd. In this article, we'll showcase resume tips and examples that can help you create a professional scrum master resume that catches the eye of hiring managers.
This comprehensive guide will give you all the tools you need to craft a scrum master resume that positions you strongly against other candidates. The article will take you through the key steps of creating a resume that presents your key skills, qualities and career achievements in a format that employers favor. It will also help you tailor your resume according to your unique skills and experience level. Read on to learn how to write a perfect scrum master resume, from the advice of careers experts at Jobseeker.
Core sections to include in a scrum master resume
Although the content of a scrum master resume may differ according to your experience and seniority, the main sections will remain the same.
If you're applying for an entry-level scrum master role and have limited relevant experience, consider using a skills-based, or functional resume format. The layout emphasizes your skills and education above your work experience. Draw attention to your soft and transferable skills, as employers will value these highly for entry-level roles. You could also mention any internships, training or volunteer work that helps you showcase skills relevant to the position.
If you're already working as a scrum master, concentrate on proving your credentials with your work achievements. Use a reverse-chronological resume format to place work experience prominently in your resume. By using this resume format you can focus on showing how your experience has helped you develop the required skills for the job. Review the job description to understand which key skills and experience to focus on.
For senior scrum master roles, you're likely to be competing against highly experienced candidates. Use a reverse-chronological resume format and focus on adding additional information that shows your credentials beyond your work experience. Some elements to include in a senior resume for maximum impact might include awards, publications, conference presentations or professional memberships. By adding these sections, it's likely that your resume will be longer than a junior resume.
The order you present these sections can vary according to your career stage, but it's still essential to include each of the following:
Resume Header with Contact Details
A scrum master resume header contains your name and contact information. Add your first and last name, your phone number and your email address. Include your address or location, but avoid adding any other personal information. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can add the URL to your header so the hiring manager can get a better understanding of your work history and experience. Make sure your resume header is as brief as possible and doesn't take up too much valuable space. Choose a clear, professional design that sets the tone for your application.
Make sure your email address appears as professional as possible, and doesn't include anything like nicknames, inappropriate language or personal information. If it does, set up a new email account with an address based on your name or initials, and use that for your job applications. Always double-check your contact details are up-to-date before sending your resume.
Emily Price
emily.price@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA
linkedin․com/in/emily–price123
Resume Summary
Following your resume header, write a resume summary to introduce yourself and showcase some of your key skills and achievements. Alternative names for this section are 'resume objective' and 'personal profile'. While a resume summary focuses on your career experience, a resume objective covers your ambitions and career plans. Additionally, make sure your resume summary reflects the job description and focuses on qualities that are relevant to working as a scrum master.
Alternatively, you could use this section to reference your objectives and ambitions, and how this role would fit into your career journey.
A great resume summary should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for scrum master roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description and provide evidence to support them. It should also introduce your personality and unique qualities to the reader, to help them start to form an opinion about you as a candidate. See below for some great examples of what to include in your scrum master resume summary.
Good example:
Certified Scrum Master with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and extensive experience as an Agile Project Manager. Proven track record in leading cross-functional teams, facilitating Agile methodologies, and delivering complex IT projects on time and within scope. Adept at fostering collaborative environments, improving team performance, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. Strong communicator with a deep understanding of software development lifecycle and Agile frameworks
Bad example:
Professional with some background in technology and project management. Worked with teams and used certain methods to complete projects. Tried to create good working environments and improve how teams work together. Communicated with others and had some knowledge of software processes and frameworks
On the other hand, a resume summary can be ineffective if it lacks specific information about how your skills align with the job description, or fails to paint a picture of your unique qualities and talents. In the graphic above you can find some negative examples of how to write a resume summary.
Employment History
In the next section, list your employment history focusing on the most relevant previous roles and achievements that showcase your scrum master skills. Include any relevant jobs you've held in reverse-chronological order. Start with your current or most recent roles and work back through previous roles. For each job, list your title, the name of the company, its location and the dates you worked there.
Add some bullet points under each job entry, explaining your achievements in the role, so the reader can see how you contributed towards success for the company. Provide evidence of your impact and make sure each point addresses a requirement listed in the job description.
A good resume work experience section includes your most relevant previous jobs and highlights your key achievements in each role. To make the best possible impression on hiring managers, make sure each entry in your work experience section references skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you added value to each role with quantifiable evidence and outcomes. See the examples below for some ideas of what a great resume work experience looks like.
Good example:
Agile Project Manager, January 2022 - Present
AgileWave Solutions, Spokane
- Successfully led a cross-functional team to deliver a $1M project two months ahead of schedule, increasing client satisfaction by 30%
- Implemented Agile methodologies across multiple departments, resulting in a 40% increase in overall project efficiency and a 25% reduction in costs
- Facilitated over 50 Agile training sessions, improving team competency in Scrum practices, leading to a 50% decrease in project delivery time
Bad example:
Agile Project Manager, January 2022 - Present
AgileWave Solutions, Spokane
- Led team projects to success, enhancing collaboration and meeting objectives
- Implemented new processes to improve efficiency and reduce costs
- Conducted training sessions to boost team skills and performance
The example above can give you some idea of what not to include in your resume work experience section. Less effective resume work experience sections might take a more vague, descriptive approach to previous jobs. They focus on responsibilities and everyday duties rather than referencing career achievements and the value you've added for previous employers.
Education
Your resume's education section provides space for you to list your highest and most relevant qualifications for scrum master roles.
If you're applying for scrum master positions you'll typically need to have a degree. A Bachelor of Science in Information Technology will usually help your chances of success. You could also list any qualifications that demonstrate your sprint planning skills or JIRA/Confluence expertise.
List every relevant qualification, including the name and level of the course, the name of the school, college or university, its location and your graduation date. If you have space, include some bullet points outlining any specialist areas of study, awards or high grades, so the employer can learn more about your unique skill set and knowledge.
If you were a member of any clubs or societies, or volunteered for any causes while studying, you could also mention these in your education section.
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, 2017 - 2020
California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, CA
Skills
In your skills section, list any skills you've acquired or developed that are relevant to scrum master positions. Consider adding sprint planning skills, communication skills or any other necessary skills for the job. Again, refer to the scrum master job description for an indication of the types of skills the employer is looking for, and make sure your skills section reflects these.
Listing hard skills on your scrum master resume
Hard skills are the key technical skills required for scrum master positions. They include specific industry knowledge and abilities that you could learn on the job, or through a specialist qualification. Furthermore, it's important to show these skills in a scrum master resume as they provide a strong indication of your experience in the sector. It's best to aim for four or five key hard skills that match the job description. These can really showcase your suitability for the job.
You'll make more impact with your resume hard skills list if you focus on technical skills that reflect your unique expertise and specialism, and that match the key requirements in the job description. See the graphic below for some tips on hard skills for a scrum master resume.
- Agile methodology proficiency
- JIRA/Confluence expertise
- Sprint planning skills
How to list soft skills on your scrum master resume
Soft skills are your transferable skills and personal qualities that make you a good match for a scrum master position and the organization. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, and can often apply to multiple jobs and industries. In fact, you can develop soft skills throughout your career, and they tend to be suitable for various roles and professions. In this section, add four of five transferable skills that match the job description.
A good soft skills section would include skills that match the job description, and also reflect your key strengths and qualities. See the graphic below for an indication of what to include in a strong soft skills section for a scrum master resume.
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving abilities
- Conflict resolution
Licenses and Certifications
In this section, include any scrum master certifications, training or licenses you hold that are relevant to the job. These could be professional accreditations and licenses, or certifications that improve your level of suitability for the position. Therefore, include the details of any licenses and professional certifications required for scrum master roles, along with completion dates so employers can see you're up-to-date.
Review the list below for some suitable certifications for a scrum master resume:
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), 2022
- Professional Scrum Master (PSM), 2022
- Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM), 2022
Optional Resume Sections
In addition to the core sections of a scrum master resume, there are several optional sections you could include to enhance your chances. Choose optional sections from the list below, if they help to showcase your relevant skills and experience.
Personal Hobbies and Interests
Including your hobbies and interests can be a valuable way of showing your key skills and qualities. Consider listing hobbies and interests to help your resume stand out, or to provide the employer with some insight into your personality and wider interests. They're perfect for candidates who might lack genuine work experience as a scrum master. Only include hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and personal qualities, and add something different to your application.
Voluntary Work
Adding voluntary roles can be a useful way of showing relevant experience and skills for scrum master roles beyond your main employment history. Add your volunteer job title or role, the name of the organization, its location and the dates you were involved.
References
It's relatively unusual to include references in a standard scrum master resume, but they are required occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Be sure to prepare your referees in advance, so they've agreed to provide a reference and are ready to be contacted.
References are available upon request.
Best strong verbs for your a scrum master resume
Add strong verbs to your work experience section to show the hiring manager the impact you made in your previous roles. Choose from the list of words below to increase the impact of your work experience section.
- Facilitated
- Coordinated
- Mentored
- Guided
- Resolved
- Prioritized
- Monitored
- Improved
- Organized
- Implemented
If you want to create a resume that stands out from the crowd, use Jobseeker's expert-designed resume templates. You can also find cover letter templates that work to get you noticed by employers.
Example resume for scrum master applications
Using each of the sections above, we've created this example scrum master resume, to help guide you when creating your own:
1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA
•
emily.price@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/emily–price123
Certified Scrum Master with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and extensive experience as an Agile Project Manager. Proven expertise in leading cross-functional teams, implementing Agile methodologies, and driving project success through effective collaboration and continuous improvement. Skilled in facilitating Scrum ceremonies, removing impediments, and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability. Strong background in IT project management, stakeholder communication, and delivering high-quality solutions on time and within scope.
Agile Project Manager
2020
-2022
SprintSync Solutions (Las Vegas)
- Successfully led a cross-functional team to deliver a complex software project 20% ahead of schedule, increasing client satisfaction
- Implemented Agile methodologies across five departments, improving project delivery time by 30% and enhancing team collaboration
- Reduced project costs by 15% through efficient resource management and continuous process improvements in an Agile environment
Agile methodology proficiency
JIRA/Confluence expertise
Sprint planning skills
Communication skills
Problem-solving abilities
Conflict resolution
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
Professional Scrum Master (PSM)
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Key tips for a scrum master resume
Tips for best resume practices
- Showcase your key skills throughout your resume, as well as in your dedicated skills list, with each skill reflecting the job description.
- Write a compelling resume summary or objective to introduce yourself and your key scrum master skills.
- Mention your key educational achievements, such as degrees and professional qualifications, along with grades such as your GPA, if they're high.
- Add each relevant job in reverse-chronological order, beginning with your current or most recent position and working back from there.
- Quantify your achievements and show evidence of how you've used your skills to bring positive outcomes in your career to date.
Avoid these common mistakes on your resume
- Don't clutter your document by trying to add too many details. Focus on core scrum master skills and achievements that are relevant to the role.
- Don't use passive language - avoid phrases like 'I was tasked with' and use strong action verbs instead.
- Don't use an email address that contains unprofessional content, and if necessary create a new, more professional email address.
- Don't use out-of-date contact information. Always make sure your email address and phone number are correct before sending your resume.
- Don't write any unnecessary personal details on your resume. Details such as age, gender or nationality can lead to unintentional recruitment bias.
Tips on creating an ATS-optimized resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to manage their hiring process. They can handle some of the more time-consuming and resource-intensive jobs, such as initial screening of resumes. Employers often receive hundreds of applications per vacancy, and ATS software can quickly and accurately scan and rank resumes based on their likely suitability for any role. When writing your scrum master resume, a few simple tips can help you pass the ATS stage with a higher-ranking resume, giving you a better chance of success with your applications.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- Use a traditional resume format, such as reverse-chronological or functional. These will give your resume a structure that's easier for ATS systems to scan.
- Use keywords throughout your resume that reflect the job description, so ATS resume scanners can recognize a strong connection between your skills, and those in the job description.
- Add each section with clear headings that match the established resume conventions, so ATS software can easily identify each part of your resume.
- Adopt a resume design that uses clear, professional design principles and leaves white space for your content to breathe. Use the most readable fonts and incorporate subtle design elements to enhance the readability of your document.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
If you're looking for inspiration for your resume, discover our comprehensive resume examples and in-depth, expert career blog.
A scrum master resume FAQs
Now that you know how to write a professional scrum master resume, you might also want to learn how to write an accompanying cover letter that makes a similar impact.
In some situations, a full, professional cover letter may not be necessary. Check the job advert and decide whether to write a formal cover letter, or if a brief email is more suitable.
If you choose to write a full cover letter, follow traditional letter-writing conventions surrounding greetings, sign-offs and use of professional language. The body of the cover letter tends to be three paragraphs. The first introduces yourself and the role you're applying for, giving reasons for your application. The second briefly covers your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to scrum master roles. Finally, the third paragraph re-emphasizes your interest in the role and leaves a call to action, encouraging the employer to reach out to you.
For help creating an eye-catching cover letter that impresses recruiters and hiring managers, use Jobseeker's professional cover letter templates.
If you have no experience, it's still possible to write a professional scrum master resume that makes a positive impression on hiring managers. Use a functional resume format instead of the standard reverse-chronological structure. This emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience. Use the additional information sections at the end of your resume as a showcase for relevant skills and achievements. These can be a particularly useful way of proving you have the skills necessary for the job.
A resume headline can catch the attention of the reader and give them a strong first impression about your suitability for scrum master jobs. A well-constructed resume headline can help your resume rank highly with ATS screening tools by referencing some of the key information from the job description. Take the time to draft a concise, eye-catching headline which includes the job title, one or two key skills and reference to either your experience level or track record.
You can use this example resume headline as a template for creating your own:
- Aspiring Scrum Master Enthusiast
- Agile Scrum Master Expert Facilitator
- Experienced Senior Scrum Master
The best format for your resume depends on two key factors. Firstly, the amount of relevant work experience you have. Secondly, the type of role and its level of seniority. If you don't have much experience, for example if you're applying for a graduate role or changing careers, you might consider a functional resume format. This focuses on your skills and education above your work experience. If, however, you have relevant work experience in the industry, it's typically best to use a reverse chronological resume format. This highlights your achievements in work, which is probably the most important factor for hiring managers to consider.
Key takeaways for your scrum master resume
The key to a strong resume is to showcase your relevant skills and achievements through your work experience and other activities. Select a resume format that suits your experience levels and the job you're applying for, and make sure you tailor your resume for each application.
Using the professional resume templates and resources of Jobseeker can help you create a great-looking resume that stands out from other applicants. Sign up today and follow the simple steps to get started. Whether you're a junior or senior candidate, a professional cover letter can help to grab the attention of the employer. Jobseeker's cover letter examples were created by careers experts to provide useful tips and ideas for your cover letter.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
