Scrum masters like you know how to guide teams through sprints and how to improve and adapt to obstacles that pop up within projects. You use other Agile frameworks to define scope, milestones, and success maps for various projects—from software development to engineering—all while unifying your team and delegating tasks to meet objectives on time.
While you’re ready to dive into your next challenge—you’re not so willing when it comes to writing a cover letter to complement your scrum master resume.
Luckily, our scrum master cover letter examples and valuable tips will make the process a little easier for you and, coupled with our free cover letter generator set you on your way!
Why this cover letter works
- Jeanette connects with the company’s objective of going green before shifting to her education and skills. She also references their mission statement of sustainable energy.
- When a company presents a more corporate culture, keeping demonstrations of personality concise and relevant to the role is wise. The personal connection remains, but the values and tone match the company.
- Jeanette has also studied the job listing. Since the job ad emphasizes the importance of team relationships, she follows suit and focuses on interpersonal skills, providing metrics that back up her teamwork and leadership abilities.
- Always research the company you’re applying to, and read the Scrum Master job description thoroughly. Speak to the needs delineated in the job ad when you write your Scrum Master cover letter.
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Why this cover letter works
- Getting a start can be challenging, but who says you can’t shine bright as a beginner? Find your silver lining in an internship, just like Zara does in this entry-level Scrum Master cover letter.
- Showcase your ability to use theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios, draw out the relevant tools, and deliver positive impacts. An example would be Zara’s adeptness at managing a caseload of 152 user stories using Confluence, improving team velocity by 16.8%.
Why this cover letter works
- Echoing familiarity within your junior Scrum Master cover letter creates an immediate sense of connection. Emilia hits the bullseye in this respective.
- Sharing a past experience with the hiring company brings a touch of warmth and relatability. That could be anything from a past professional engagement or how a product offered by the hiring company (e.g., software) impacted you positively.
Why this cover letter works
- Trendsic says they view their company as a family, so Joe acknowledges this at the beginning and end of his senior Scrum Master cover letter. He also highlights his adaptability and diverse experience, which are crucial for this senior role.
- Personally connecting with the company is a strong start, and referencing or using similar language to the company’s site and job description like Joe does is effective.
- Joe has a lot of information to pack into his letter since he’s applying for a senior position, so he demonstrates career growth with solid metrics and a company-appropriate tone.
- Research the company to find objectives that tie in with your career skills. Further strengthen your senior Scrum Master cover letter by highlighting dynamic areas of your career and quantifying them. Always note what the job description calls for—and answer that call!
Why this cover letter works
- Kari connects with DSYS by aligning personal values with the company’s goals to bring technical solutions to potential clients. She follows with relevant technical skills listed in the job description and pulls phrasing from the company mission statement, like “blending businesses with the latest in IT innovations and inventions,” as stated on their about page.
- While DSYS’ website focuses on revenue and cost efficiency, the job ad emphasizes problem-solving and collaboration much more—and both cite increasing innovation velocity.
- Referencing overlap between company values and the job description in your Agile Scrum Master cover letter is smart.
- An Agile Scrum Master works across the company instead of focusing on single projects, so mention a history of working with other Scrum Masters.
- Here’s another example of why you should pay attention to not only the company website’s tone but the specifics of the role itself. You can’t just align with the company—show that you can also do the job well.
Complete your scrum master resume next
In just a bit, we’ll outline what to do in each section of your cover letter, but we’d be remiss if we failed to mention the importance of your Scrum Master resume. Starting from a resume outline may be a good way to ease into the process. From there, try picking one of our free Google Docs resume templates or start editing a modern template like this one here in our resume builder.
Senior Scrum Master Resume
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Writing Tips for Your Scrum Master Cover Letter
While writing a cover letter for a Scrum Master role, there are a few essential tips to keep in mind to streamline the process. Make sure you tailor your letter around the company and role, provide added value not listed on your resume, and refine your message.
Tip 1: Customize your cover letter
So many cover letters are generic and boring! Most blur together in the recruiter’s mind once they’ve read a few—but, of course, you want yours to grab their attention instead. One of the best ways to stand out to a potential employer is to show that you care enough to have learned more about their company and what they’re looking for in a Scrum Master.
Read back over the Scrum Master job listing, searching for keywords that apply to your experience. Do they mention particular skills that happen to be some of your best traits, such as prioritization or servant-leadership? How about a specific company challenge similar to something you’ve already done? Maybe the organization has a mission statement you feel passionate about—seek helpful tidbits like these to take your cover letter to the top.
Tip 2: Go beyond your resume job descriptions
Your Scrum Master resume is bound to cover some crucial qualification points—but your cover letter shouldn’t just repeat them. Instead, a great Scrum Master cover letter will laser in on a couple of key accomplishments, going beyond the scope of a simple bullet point to leave a lasting impact that demonstrates the value you offer.
Consider questions like these to help you get started:
- How many Scrum teams have you led, and what was your success rate in terms of completing a product lifecycle objective on time?
- What standout projects did you guide your Scrum teams to complete, and how did they benefit the company?
Scrum values can be applied to a vast array of project types, after all, so now’s a great chance to offer specifics. Show the unique impact you’ve had as a Scrum Master to increase the chances of your cover letter making it to the interview pile.
Tip 3: Consider your tone and message
While customizing your cover letter and providing examples beyond your resume bullet points are both crucial, your message as a Scrum Master should convey even more. Make it easy for potential employers to read between the lines by skillfully choosing buzzwords and bits of phrasing from the company’s website to show that you can already see yourself there.
Keep your Scrum Master cover letter under a page; you have limited space to deliver the message that you genuinely care about the company and are ideal for the job. Just a heads up: This may take some editing! And if you leave any proofreading errors behind, they could result in a quick dismissal before the reader even gets to see what a great candidate you are.
Make it easy for potential employers to read between the lines by skillfully choosing buzzwords and bits of phrasing from the company’s website to show that you can already see yourself there.
Lastly, mold your tone around the company’s culture. Are you applying somewhere highly technical and more corporate? If so, minimize personal anecdotes and take a more no-frills approach. But if the company is more artsy or laid-back, let your personality shine.
The Framework for Your Scrum Master Cover Letter
Scrum Masters must exhibit superior attention to detail, so the little things in your cover letter can make a big difference. Now that you’ve read three prime examples of Scrum Master cover letters, it’s time to break things down into more detail so you can start writing your own!
How to start a scrum master cover letter
Your contact info: Include your name, address, phone number, and email address if you use a cover letter template. You can also include your LinkedIn or other professional social media.
- Formatting: Leave your name out of your address if you use a block format.
Example
7241 Fable Heights
Amarillo, TX 79106
(123) 456-7890
Date: Write out the date, and make sure what you write reflects the date you submit your application documents.
Inside address: The inside address is the address of the person you’re sending your cover letter to. Include their name, company role, and address.
Example
Marilyn Pratt, Hiring Manager
Envision
1201 Louisiana Street Suite 500
Houston, TX 77002
- Formatting: Write each part of the address on its own line—double-space between the inside address and greeting for clarity.
Greeting: Also known as the salutation, this is where you’ll make a crucial first impression. Do whatever homework it takes to find the right name for the employer or hiring manager—never use general phrases like “To Whom It May Concern.”
- Formatting: Using a colon after the greeting in your Scrum Master cover letter should be the default since it’s more formal—especially if you’re applying to a more corporate company. But a comma may work fine if the company culture is more casual.
How to write your scrum master cover letter
Body: The body of your Scrum Master cover letter should be three or four paragraphs that show your interest, credentials, and genuine enthusiasm for future discussion of the job role.
Opening paragraph: Remember your whole goal is to stand out from other Scrum Masters by shunning all things generic, vague, and boring! Check out the following examples for reference.
Bad
Who doesn’t love green energy these days? I have plenty of Scrum Master experience, so that I can help with this.
Why It’s Bad: This opening just doesn’t tell us anything at all. The first sentence sounds borderline sarcastic, and the second offers zero credibility in the form of specific skills or values.
Good
I’ve always admired the beauty in our world. My early interests in technology evolved into a drive to contribute to a greener, more sustainable future with a bachelor’s in biology and a strong background in software development, Scrum leadership, and teamwork. I would love to use my knack for interpersonal communication alongside my technical skills to help Envision solve the challenges of creating a sustainable future.
Why It’s Good: The personal and long-lived connection with the company values is a primary point in this candidate’s favor—and so is how they blend references to the company’s mission statement with their qualifying skills.
Paragraphs 2-3: These paragraphs should back up your claims from the opening paragraph. Stay organized and concise, just as you would within your actual role as a Scrum Master: You don’t have room to ramble, so keep each paragraph to only one achievement, like an outstanding Scrum team project or velocity improvement strategy, and include only the most relevant metrics.
Example
Since 43% of today’s media consumption is digital, I’d love to use my proficiency in Agile techniques, HTML/CSS, database management, SEO, and jQuery to help Trendsic’s teams meet each fresh, new objective. I owe my previous experience with Jira and Confluence to 5 years spent working as Spectrum’s Scrum Master, leading my software development teams through the streamlined creation of 16+ UX-oriented projects. My laser-like focus and immediate responsiveness to feedback increased team velocity by 94%. .
Why It’s Good: The media consumption percentage is a direct reference to a claim made on the company’s website, and the candidate immediately dives into the skills that apply to that focal point. They describe one specific, relevant accomplishment next and quantify it directly.
Closing paragraph: Complete your cover letter with a strong summary of how you’re already aligned with the company’s needs. Finally, provide a compelling call to action that shows a heartfelt interest in connecting to discuss the job role in the future further.
Bad
I’d love to work for this company, and I’m plenty qualified. Let me know if you need to know more.
Why It’s Bad: If anything comes off as disingenuous, it’s this. Keep your closing paragraph promising and enthusiastic.
Good
My natural affinity for a test-and-learn approach with data integration pairs well with my proactive risk management, organizational abilities, and coaching skills, making me an ideal candidate for Envision’s newest Scrum Master. I flourish in challenging environments, building solid connections and guiding my teams with excellent coaching and refinement methods. Please contact me at your convenience for more details on how I can help Envision create a zero-carbon world.
Why It’s Good: This closing paragraph offers specific abilities from the job description and company’s mission statement, solidly demonstrating this candidate’s ability to work in a challenging environment and help others thrive. The call to action also connects with the company’s mission statement.
- Formatting: Single-space your body text but double-space between paragraphs for legibility.
Signature: Say “thank you” to the reader if you didn’t do so in your closing paragraph. Always use a professional close and your real name.
Example
Thank you for your time,
Joe Little
- Formatting: If you’re presenting hard copies of your Scrum Master cover letter, quadruple space to create room for your John Hancock in blue/black ink.
Enclosure(s): This vital part of your complete application package signals that there’s more valuable information to review. For instance, Scrum Masters should include their polished resume, application, and, most likely, certifications that attest to their knowledge and professional merits.
Example
Enclosures:
Resume
Application
Scrum Master certification
- Formatting: Use the singular or plural form of “enclosure” correctly, depending on how many items you’re enclosing!
Is Your Scrum Master Resume Set to Impress?
While your new Scrum Master cover letter will indeed look stunning, your cover letter isn’t the only thing you’ll need. Now’s the perfect time to ensure your Scrum Master resume is in peak condition, so all your application materials are cohesive.
In fact, it’s actually far easier to write your cover letter after writing a resume. Check your resume for active voice, metrics, and more. Or, choose from our free resume templates, like this one here, that you can start editing now.
Agile Scrum Master Resume
Need a resume to pair with your agile scrum master cover letter?
Take your time, explore our resume tips, and compare your doc against our sample resumes to find any areas that could use some polish. Between your eye-catching cover letter and an equally stellar resume, you’ll be on the path to Scrum Master success in no time!
Aim for a one-page cover letter of approximately 300 words. While Scrum Masters have many technical skills, it’s important to avoid overwhelming hiring managers with too much information. Instead, focus on the primary duties of the job. For instance, if you’ll be organizing Agile software development systems, then listing skills in managing self-organized or cross-functional teams would be ideal areas to focus on.
A custom cover letter is essential in the hiring process since Scrum Masters may manage projects in many industries and varying forms. For instance, developing software for marketing campaigns will look a lot different than a program used in medical research. For example, medical software has stricter compliance requirements that you would want to emphasize within your project management abilities.
Aim to match the tone in the Scrum Master job description. For example, if you’re applying to a marketing startup with a friendly and laid-back tone, you could explain your use of Agile frameworks and automation techniques similarly. You could even emphasize how those frameworks led to a better work environment that would align with the positive atmosphere the company is trying to create.
