Lessons from the Top Scrub Masters: A Handy Guide to Passing Your Interview

So, you’re getting ready to interview for a scrum master position and aren’t sure what to expect during the process. Perhaps you’ve never interviewed for a scrum master job before, and thus, are worried that something may come up that you aren’t prepared for.

Maybe this is your first serious job interviewer ever, and thus, any job interview makes you feel nervous or afraid. Regardless of your situation, as long as you know how to handle yourself in the room, you should be fine!

There are a few basic tips and tricks that you should know when going in for any job interview. And those tips and tricks, combined with a basic knowledge of scrum, can help you get the job of your dreams.

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about a scrum master job interview, including how to stand out above other scrum masters interviewing for that same job. Now then, let’s get started!

Be Professional

When it comes to a job interview, regardless of the position or the field, it’s important to be respectful and personal. Companies will often hire the person with the best personality, or the person they think will fit the best, over the person who is the most qualified. So you need to make sure you come across as confident, but also easy to work with (and for).

Dress the part, look your interviewer in the eyes, and pause for a second before answering every question. Last but not least, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, and try to relax, so you don’t come across as too uptight or dry.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Many people may not know this, but it’s 100% okay for you, the interviewee, to ask questions, too. This is especially true if the person who is interviewing you work for the company, or is the person you’ll be reporting to should you get the job.

Ask questions to clearly identify what it is they’re looking for in the position. Try to get an understanding of how they do things, and what they need out of their next scrum master, so you can confirm that you’re the person for the job.

With that being said, don’t be too personal with the questions. Digging for information about what it’s like to work there, or who is the most difficult person on the team to manage, doesn’t come across well.

Be a Certified Scrum Master

It goes without saying but being a certified scrum master can go a long way in helping you secure the job. Even if the job doesn’t list “certified scrum master” in the job description, any kind of certification or degree is always a plus.

And if you’re not a certified scrum master, be sure to at least mention that you’re willing to get certified. Because again, this can help make you stand out from other candidates in a positive way, which is what you want.

Know the Basic Roles of Scrum

When being interviewed for a scrum master position, you will get a few scrum master interview questions. One of the basic questions that you must make sure you can answer is what are the basic roles of scrum and how do they each work together.

There’s the product owner, the scrum master, and the delivery team. The interviewer may transition from this question to hypothetical scenarios of how you would manage the team and handle issues. So, by having a solid understanding of each role and basic leadership skills, you should be able to answer those questions with ease.

Know the Role of a Scrum Master

While it’s important to know the role of everyone on the team, it’s most important to know the role of a scrum master.

The basic goal of any scrum master is to guide a team to a sprint goal while removing any obstacles or distractions along the way. That, combined with the ability to coach the team and improve upon any weak points, is the basic role of a scrum master.

Have a Scrum Master Game Plan

Finally, it’s important to have a clear goal or plan in mind of how you would handle the team should you get the job. Basic details like how often your team is going to meet (daily), how you will track success, and the steps you’ll take along the way to meet your goals.

It’s a good idea to create a basic outline of this plan and bring copies with you, so both you and your interviewer can see your plan in a clear and concise manner. It’s also what can help you stand out from other candidates, which again is the overall goal here.

How Scrum Masters Handle Job Interviews

Well, there you have it! Those are a few basic tips and tricks you can use to land the scrub master job of your dreams! And by using these tips, shine brighter than other scrum masters interviewing for that same job!

Remember, be calm and confident, and respectful. People want to work with good people, so if you check that box, you’re halfway there.

Understand scrum, and how it works, so you can answer basic scrum questions. Have a game plan, and even write it down, so the interviewer can see your plan more clearly.

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