In March 2021, I was conversing with a CTO of a Product based company. He asked me a question that if it was worth employing a Scrum Master. We discussed the topic by exchanging opinions, and I explained my viewpoint.
Through discussion, another question came up. The question was, how do we create the career roadmap of a Scrum Master? Is it truly worth it to become a master? How can we address this doubt? Certain factors like slow economic recovery and stuck wages are essential in the said matter. But in my opinion, the answer is straightforward. It is not a crystal-clear process to design one’s career when lasting fulfilment is a target. My advice and viewpoint are as follows regarding the worthiness of the Scrum Master career path.
Seek satisfaction and expertise
How can we determine the value of our work as a Scrum Master and Coach? For addressing the question, I need to tell you my experience as a Scrum Master when I started my career as a Scrum Master in 2013.
My approach was to ask myself if I can create a positive and long-lasting impact on the concerned team or organisation. I was not into making a short-lived impact. My mentoring aspects would have been negative if applied as a short-term one. How did I recognise if the impact that I created was long-lived? There is no direct answer. You would at least require three different organisations, four identical teams, and a total of three to four years of experience, to quote the least.
Treat your career course as a trial
In my opinion, those people who try to find a meaningful purpose in their successful careers have an experimental approach.
You need to find quicker ways to confirm your career hypothesis to reach a fulfilling level. It is unnecessary to join a new job in a new industry to identify if it suits you. The first concrete step towards finding it is to have the will to experiment with different opportunities in your existing company. Be straightforward and determined to ask your employer about playing the role of a Scrum Master of the concerned team. Seize the opportunity to learn more about the line of work and research online. Take up voluntary projects and engage in conversations to learn more. Joining a community would help you see the glimpse of promising lands.
Asking a Coach or Mentor
Do not undervalue a mentor’s power in any way. For example, when I first took my career decisions, I knew I required expert assistance. Thus, I went on to learn better by connecting to the mentors.
If the mentor is an expert, you will attain valuable guidance to boost your confidence level. Additionally, several studies on this profession validate this fact:
Glassdoor provides specific predictions with the recently released report, 50 Best Jobs in America for 2021. The report says that Scrum Master is one of the best careers to consider, for which they ranked it at the 40th position among the top fifty jobs.
40th position: Scrum Master:
- Rating for job satisfaction: 4
- No. of job openings: 2331
- Median Basic Salary: $105,000
To specifically comprehend India’s career opportunities, you should know that there are 843 jobs listed on Glassdoor. The stated update is valid at the time of writing the article(July 2021).
Bonus
LinkedIn Data Reports claim that the Job role of Scrum Master is one of the most Promising careers in 2019.
Trust me, that finding the career of your dreams is not at all an easy task. The path that follows in finding the dream job is a bit scary. I can vouch for it from my experience. But keep in mind that you should not back out from the process for the scare factors. A frightening process does not imply its unworthiness.
Avoid Rushing
Consider the time that you will spend in your work in hours. It is 90,000 hours in a lifetime for an average person. Thus, you only have to ensure that the time you spend is worth it. It should align with your talent, values, and passion. Only then can you achieve a promising career. You have the right tools and power to reach that place, so why should anyone else decide on the worthiness of the chosen career? If you are ready for it, get started now!
I have shared my perspective, and I am sure it is worth it to become a Scrum Master. What are your thoughts? Would you please share in the comments?
About Author
Venkatesh Rajamani has more than 15 years of experience delivering working software in short, feedback-driven cycles. He loves to humanise workplaces. He founded tryScrum.com in 2018 to execute his mission of Humanizing Organizations.
