How To Write A Scrum Manager Cover Letter
Want to learn how to write the perfect Scrum Manager cover letter? Well, you’re in the right place.
Since the dawn of the Scrum framework for project management in 1995, companies continue to reap the benefits of its three pillars of transparency, inspection, and adaptation. Scrum operates in conjunction with the agile methodology to increase efficiency throughout the organization.
Companies solicit the expertise of scrum managers or scrum masters to help with the implementation of the scrum framework into their software development processes.
This article is an in-depth guide for writing an outstanding scrum master cover letter and includes a few templates.
Let’s dive right in.
What is a Scrum Master Cover Letter?
A scrum master cover letter is a one-page document that accompanies your job application and resume. It expresses a candidate’s interest in applying for a job and provides an overview of any additional information about your skill set, experience, and accomplishments and how you intend to use them to become a valuable addition to the company.
Employers use cover letters to filter through candidates before proceeding with the interview and further hiring processes. It is, in essence, the company’s first introduction to who you are as a person. They gain insight into your personality and whether your experience coincides with the job requirements. In this instance, the requirements for obtaining a scrum master position.
A Comprehensive Guide to Crafting a Scrum Master Cover Letter
Here are a few tips to take into consideration when writing a scrum master cover letter:
Know About the Company: Do Research
Before you begin writing a scrum master cover letter, consider researching the company’s objectives, values and culture to ensure that you have a complete understanding of the qualities they look for in an ideal candidate.
Knowing these core tenets about the company helps with tailoring your cover letter according to the job description. Be sure to use language or jargon that is specific to the industry to which you are applying. Therefore, in your scrum master cover letter, think about using keywords that not only highlight your experience and knowledge but prove to the employer that you are suitable for the job. Some examples of key terminology include agile methodology, agile techniques, and project management.
Make it Unique: Customize the Content
When writing your scrum master cover letter, ensure that you tailor the content in accordance with the job description. It is not an uncommon practice for candidates to use the same and oftentimes generic cover letter when applying for multiple jobs.
Capture the attention of hiring managers and demonstrate to them that you are a serious candidate by personalizing the cover letter. One way to achieve this is by researching who the hiring manager is and addressing them by name. Another example is to begin the cover letter with a sentence or statement that grabs their attention.
The goal here is to nudge them into considering you for the subsequent steps within the hiring process.
Keep it to the Point: Be Concise
The typical length of cover letter is one page. This is either at the candidate’s discretion or whether the employer makes stipulations about the minimum or maximum length. While the length accounts for how much detail you deem necessary to include, it is still important that you remain concise.
When you keep the contents of the letter succinct, it increases the likelihood that the hiring manager reads the letter in its entirety. Although the goal is to demonstrate your qualifications, the best cover letters are to the point and make it clear that you are the right fit for the company.
It helps to use a simple format for the cover letter, avoiding the use of elaborate font styles and sizes. For reference, a good scrum master cover letter uses fonts such as Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman at the standard size of 12.
Add Your Relevant Skills: Showcase Your Abilities
The scrum master cover letter showcases your experience and expertise that qualify you for the job. Hiring managers aim to select and shortlist candidates who most suit the job description and requirements. In the event that a candidate does not have relevant experience in scrum project management, outlining internship and training experience also adds value.
Make comparisons between your knowledge and the specific aspects of the position to further display how suitable you are for the role. For the scrum master, it helps to detail your knowledge of software development or that you are a certified scrum master, to name a few, and how these skills led to success in your previous position.
Review Your Cover Letter: Get Critique
Reviewing your cover letter is key to ensuring its quality. Read through the entire document and double-check whether there are any errors in spelling, grammar, tone, and formatting.
Consider having a colleague, family member, or otherwise review and critique the cover letter and provide feedback. Here are some helpful questions for consideration when evaluating the cover letter:
- Does the opening paragraph capture the reader’s attention?
- Do the middle paragraphs demonstrate the candidate’s accomplishments and competence?
- Is the letter concise and persuasive?
- Does the letter concentrate on relevant skills?
- Is there a call to action, and is it assertive enough?
- Does the letter appeal to the employer’s needs rather than the candidate?
- Are the formatting, grammar, and tone correct?
What is the Objective of the Scrum Master Cover Letter?
Before advancing to the interview process and other relative aspects of finding a new job, the scrum master cover letter represents the opportune time to persuade the employer that you are the right person for the job.
The cover letter is a compelling illustration of your professional history and aspirations because it explores your eligibility, passions, scrum master skills, and the factors that influence you to pursue a career as a scrum master.
Here are three concrete objectives of the scrum master cover letter:
- It makes your job application more personal
- It demonstrates your interest in the position
- It reflects your work ethic
Scrum Master Cover Letter Outline
The general outline for cover letters is as follows:
- Header
- Employer details
- Greeting
- Introduction
- Body
- Closing paragraph
- Signature
Scrum Master Cover Letter: Explanation of Outline
Header
This first section entails your name, address, contact information. You have the option to include links to other relevant digital profiles such as websites or LinkedIn accounts.
Employer Details
This section comprises the name and job title of the hiring manager and the company name and address.
Introduction
This is the beginning of the letter. In general, this starts with a hook or a sentence to captivate the reader’s attention which sets the tone for whether hiring managers read the cover letter in its entirety.
Body
The ideal body contains 2 to 3 short paragraphs and outlines accomplishments, key strengths, aspirations as a scrum master, and interest in joining the company.
Closing Paragraph
In this section, thank the employer for their time and consideration and include a polite call to action which highlights your enthusiasm and gives hiring managers incentive to contact you.
Signature
In this section, phrases such as “Sincerely” and “Warm Regards” precede your name and signature.
Scrum Master Cover Letter Examples
Example 1
Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Hiring Manager’s Name],
As a Certified Scrum Master with 6 years of experience in the financial services industry, I am confident I will be an excellent fit for [Company Name]’s vacant Scrum Master role. My significant expertise in scaled agile framework and software development life cycle has provided me with the necessary skills to successfully provide your company with enhanced project and product deliveries.
Currently, as Scrum Master for [Current Employer], I lead scrum sprints using the core tenets of the scrum framework to help two scrum teams deliver the highest quality products with fewer backlogs. In this capacity, I led the successful transformation of the teams’ waterfall mindset to agile by developing effective training materials. The following is a snapshot of my key strengths:
- Implemented projects worth $200 million, providing leadership to more than 20 applications teams and multiple scrum teams concurrently
- Fostered a scaled agile environment, facilitating communication between scrum team and product owner
- Maximized the delivery of business value by guiding teams to leverage Scrum practices and values
Thank you for considering my candidacy for this position. I’m eager to discuss your needs and my background in greater detail with you in an interview.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Example 2
Dear [Hiring Manager],
I am writing to express my interest in the Scrum Master position advertised at [Company Name]. I have 15 years of experience working in an agile environment. I have spent the past 10 years working as the Scrum Master at my current place of employment, a technology firm that provides software solutions to multiple industries.
My experience makes me an ideal fit for [Company Name]. In my current role, I facilitate sprint sessions and manage project milestones. I also oversee the exchange of information between our product owner and all development team members, including testers. I listen to suggestions for improvement and help our development team meet project deadlines. Since our company transitioned to this format, we improved our ability to meet project deadlines by 75%.
When my company decided to reorganize by moving away from a project management office and into a streamlined development team that adhered to the agile framework, I worked alongside the CIO to ensure a successful transition. I helped the CIO recruit an experienced product owner to round out our team. Additionally, I thrive in a collaborative environment, and I know my experience will help [Company Name] adopt efficient, agile methodologies.
I would welcome the opportunity to use my experience to help [Company Name] transfer from a project management office into an efficient development team that adheres to agile principles. I genuinely thank you for your time and consideration in considering me for the Scrum Master opening. I look forward to hearing from you soon and to learning more about the initiatives that [Company Name] wants to undertake.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Scrum Master Cover Letter Template
[Full Name]
[Phone Number]
[Email]
[Website or LinkedIn]
[Date]
[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[Job Title]
[Company’s Name]
[Company’s Address]
Dear [Employer’s Name],
I am excited to join [company name] as a [position title]. I have experience in [list experiences], and I have [list skills]. I am positive that I can add more value to [Company Name].
As the [current role] at [current employer], I am responsible for [list responsibilities]. During my tenure at [current employer], [discuss achievements as a UX Writer].
Your [discuss employer’s projects, content, awards, or initiatives] is fascinating. And I hope to join the Scrum Master position because [state reasons].
I would use my expertise in [list relevant skills for the position].
I am enclosing my resume with detailed information about my experience, skills, and education.
Please feel free to contact me at [contact information]. I appreciate your consideration.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
[Name]
