How to become a Scrum Master?
Hi all,
I’m a 30 year old engineer (buildings) currently working at one of the best engineer companies in the world. Although it's very rewarding and changeling I would like to do something different, something that would rely on my people and soft skills rather than my technical ones.
Hence the question: how to become a scrum master?
The role was briefly described and recommended by a friend (and developer) of mine. However, I'm struggling to understand how do I start since most of the companies ask for an experienced scrum master.
It's hard to believe that a 2 day training/certification would provide me the necessary knowledge to apply to the job..
Can you provide some guidance on the subject?
Thank you so much in advance.
Kind regards,
Rafael
Hi,
I'm a developer and I've been working with more scrum masters until now. All of them working in their own style. In my opinion, if you are not a very organized person, doing everything in a speed and doing well, my recomandation is to continue working as a developer. Cheers
I'm a developer and I've been working with more scrum masters until now. All of them working in their own style. In my opinion, if you are not a very organized person, doing everything in a speed and doing well, my recomandation is to continue working as a developer. Cheers
Adrian, that type of misinformation can be quite harmful, especially in regards to the poster's inquiry. Scrum Masters can certainly vary in their style and how they work/relate to their team/organization, but nowhere is it said that the prerequisites for becoming a Scrum Master are organizational skills, or completing tasks with speed and competency.
Perhaps you are happy working as a developer, but if you are not familiar with the knowledge and discipline needed to be an effective Scrum Master, perhaps it is best to not provide feedback on the subject.
@ Rafael,
The 2-day workshop will definitely give you an initial exposure to Scrum, and it may impart enough knowledge for you to pass a certification exam. However, there are simply too many topics to list here on what a Scrum Master can learn in order to be more effective. Here is just a sample of the many areas/disciplines to educate yourself on:
The Scrum Guide
How to lead without authority
How to effect organizational transformation
The differences (pros/cons, if any) between Agile practices
Lean practices (Muda, Muri)
Kaizen (continuous improvement)
What is Shu-Ha-Ri?
Test-driven development (TDD)
Specification By Example (SBE)
Continuous Integration/Delivery
Read books by Esther Derby, Mike Cohn, Jeff Sutherland, Daniel Pink, Craig Larman. Understand the Agile Manifesto and 12 Agile Principles, and how Scrum supports them. Understand how Scrum supports the 3 pillars of Transparency, Inspection, and Adaptation. Understand how Scrum supports the values of Focus, Openness, Respect, Courage, and Commitment.
It is difficult to get your foot in the door as an inexperienced Scrum Master. There is so much value in just working as a SM day to day. However, being able to demonstrate knowledge in Scrum may open the right doors to you.
It is a long path. You will have much to learn, and much to unlearn. Good luck!
> I’m a 30 year old engineer (buildings)...how to become a scrum master?
If you can find ways to leverage agile practice in a non-software context, such as your present (construction?) one, then I dare say you would establish relevant credentials quickly.
I'm aware of two contexts in which this matter can be considered:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile_construction
http://adtmag.com/articles/2016/04/01/the-agile-city-april-1-2016.aspx?…
Hello Rafael, I have been in your shoes not that long time ago. True, nobody would even consider your resume if it does not have at least 1 year, or even better 3 years of a previous Scrum Master responsibilities on the resume. Even references would not help. I tried for quite a while. Had great references. But had only 4 months as a SM along with the PSMI. Typical answer was: We wish you had at least 1 year of experience.
What works in such situations is, try to assume the Scrum Master role within the team your are on, or may be another team that knows you well. That said, most likely, you will need to ware two hats: a developer hat and a Scrum Master hat for a while. But that will allow you to gain that official experience to move on to the full time Scrum Master role, if you decide to do so.
So, as of me, after loosing my job, I ended up finding a job that matched by main experience but with an opportunity to become a Scrum Master. I ware two hats now. And not sure I want to give up any of them :-)
Good Luck.
and, yes, I agree with Timothy. You want to be knowledgeable in all aspects mentioned in his list. You will have to demonstrate that you can be a Scrum Master before the promised Scrum Master role will be granted.
Hi all,
I was snowed in over the last days... Thank you so much for your answers. It clarified a lot and yes, it's going to be a long path. But no one said that things should be easy!!
all the best,
Rafael
I'm afraid, Galina is right: it is usually hard to get a job without a hands-on experience for few years... However, it doesn't mean it's not possible :)
Anyway, be encouraged to learn Scrum, to feel and think as a Scrum *Master*.