Your 90-Day Action Plan to Land Your First Scrum Master Role
This is the third lecture of a series on the Real Path to Your First Scrum Master Role. So, if you are starting, I recommend reading these 2 lectures first:
- The Real Path to Your First Scrum Master Role
- Making Yourself Irresistible to Recruiters (Even Without Experience)
Tomorrow, I’ll share how to properly Talk About Yourself without talking too long or sounding unsure.
Your 90-Day Action Plan to Land Your First Scrum Master Role
Most people spend YEARS dreaming about career changes but never actually do it. You know why? They don’t have a plan. They read articles, watch videos, get inspired… and then Monday morning comes and they don’t know what to DO. Well, that ends today. I’m about to give you a week-by-week, day-by-day action plan that compresses what usually takes 12 months into 90 days. If you follow this system, you will land interviews. Period.
I just wanted to tell you about my student James. He was a business analyst at a mid-size company, frustrated with his role, dreaming about becoming a Scrum Master. For six months, he researched. Read articles. Watched YouTube videos. Bookmarked resources. But he never actually DID anything.
Then one day, his company announced layoffs. Suddenly, his “someday” career change became “right now or never.”
He reached out to me in a panic. I gave him the exact 90-day plan I’m about to share with you. Here’s what happened:
- Week 1: He passed his PSM I certification
- Week 4: He had his LinkedIn optimized and 30 Agile connections
- Week 6: He started volunteering with Code4Good
- Week 8: He applied to his first 25 jobs
- Week 10: He got his first interview
- Week 12: He had two job offers on the table
He chose a remote position paying $88,000 which is a 35% increase from his previous salary.
The difference? He finally had a SYSTEM. Not vague inspiration. Not “I’ll figure it out.” An actual step-by-step plan with weekly deliverables.
That’s what you’re getting today.
Let me break down the 90-day roadmap. I’m going to be realistic about timelines and what’s actually achievable. This plan assumes you can dedicate 10-15 hours per week to this transition. If you’re working full-time, you’ll need to extend this to 6 months, but the framework stays exactly the same.
Days 1-30: Foundation Month
Week 1: Knowledge Foundations
Your goal this week is to understand Scrum deeply enough to sound credible in conversations.
- Read the Scrum Guide 3 times (yes, THREE times, it’s only 13 pages and many interview questions test this directly)
- Read the Agile Manifesto and 12 principles
- Take the Scrum.org Open Assessment (this is your baseline)
- Set up your LinkedIn profile with professional photo and optimized headline
- Join 5 LinkedIn Scrum groups (Scrum Masters Community has 90K+ members)
- Research and select your certification path: PSM I or CSM
Week 2-3: Certification Pursuit
- If PSM I: Study 1-2 hours daily. Take the Open Assessment repeatedly until you’re scoring 90%+ consistently. Use free resources: Coursera’s “Introduction to Scrum Master Training” course, YouTube study guides, practice exams.
- If CSM: Enroll in a training course (they often run on weekends). The 16-hour training is mandatory but includes the exam prep you need.
Simultaneously:
- Connect with 20 Scrum Masters on LinkedIn using personalized messages (not generic connection requests)
- Identify 3 local Agile meetups happening in the next 60 days
- Read “Essential Scrum” by Kenneth Rubin (library or purchase)
Week 4: Certification and Initial Outreach
- Take and PASS your certification exam (schedule it early in the week so you have time to retake if needed)
- Update LinkedIn IMMEDIATELY with certification badge
- Update your resume with certification prominently featured
- Apply to your first 5 jobs (this is practice for your application strategy, so don’t stress about rejections)
- Research volunteer opportunities: Code4Good application at volunteerconnection.redcross.org, Silicon Valley Project Management, local nonprofits…
Deliverables by Day 30:
- ✓ Certification complete
- ✓ LinkedIn optimized with 25+ Agile connections
- ✓ First meetup attended
- ✓ Volunteer opportunity identified or applied to
- ✓ 5 job applications submitted
Days 31-60: Experience and Network Building
Week 5-6: Volunteer Work Begins
- Start your volunteer project (Code4Good, local nonprofit, or create your own project applying Scrum principles)
- Apply Scrum concepts in your CURRENT role: suggest a daily standup for your team, create a personal task board, propose a retrospective lunch to discuss improvements
- Attend your second Agile meetup (arrive 15 minutes early, stay 30 minutes late, meet 5+ people)
- Apply to 10-15 positions (2-3 per day)
- Read “Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time” by Jeff Sutherland
- Create a case study: Choose a real Scrum challenge (from volunteer work or hypothetical scenario) and write a detailed analysis of how you’d address it as a Scrum Master. Post this on LinkedIn.
Week 7-8: Momentum Building
- Continue volunteer work. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING: sprint velocities, team improvements, challenges overcome, quantifiable outcomes. These become resume bullet points.
- Connect with 10 MORE experienced Scrum Masters on LinkedIn
- Apply to 10-15 additional positions
- Schedule 2 coffee chats (virtual or in-person) with Scrum Masters from your network. Ask about their journey, challenges, advice.
- Create your portfolio: Certification, volunteer work evidence, case study, Agile artifacts you’ve created (sprint boards, retrospective formats, etc.)
- Practice interview questions with a friend or mentor. Prepare 5 STAR method stories.
- Attend your third meetup or virtual Scrum event
Deliverables by Day 60:
- ✓ Active volunteer experience with documented outcomes
- ✓ 35+ relevant LinkedIn connections
- ✓ 25-30 job applications total
- ✓ 2 informational interviews completed
- ✓ Portfolio created showcasing your work
- ✓ Interview practice completed with feedback
Days 61-90: Application Intensity and Refinement
Week 9-10: Application Push and Internal Opportunities
- If you’re currently employed: Request a meeting with your manager about an internal Scrum Master opportunity or piloting Scrum on one project
- Apply to 15-20 positions (increase volume while maintaining quality)
- Follow up on previous applications where appropriate (if it’s been 2+ weeks)
- Attend your fourth meetup (volunteer to help organize the next one. Why? Because this builds credibility fast)
- Share 3-4 LinkedIn posts about your learning journey, Scrum insights, or volunteer experience. Authentic stories resonate with recruiters.
- Complete 3 mock interviews (with mentor, career coach, or peer from meetup)
- Research companies known for hiring entry-level SMs and apply directly through their career pages
Week 11-12: Persistence and Expansion
- Continue applications: 15-20 per week
- Expand to bridge roles if needed: Agile Coordinator, Project Coordinator, Team Lead positions that could transition to Scrum Master
- Request informational interviews with hiring managers at companies you’re interested in (LinkedIn makes this possible)
- Create a LinkedIn article about your career change journey. Authentic stories attract opportunities.
- Consider contract or part-time Scrum Master roles for experience (they often convert to full-time)
- Reflect on interview feedback and adjust your approach
- Celebrate small wins: interviews, callbacks, positive responses
Week 13: Assessment and Continuation
- Review your metrics: applications submitted, interviews completed, networking connections made
- Analyze what’s working: which applications are getting responses? Which approaches generate interviews?
- Adjust your strategy based on data
- If offers received: Evaluate and negotiate (don’t accept the first offer without negotiating, Scrum Masters who negotiate earn 10-15% more)
- If no offers yet: Recognize this is NORMAL. Most career changers land roles between months 3-12. Recommit to the next 90 days with your refined approach.
Deliverables by Day 90:
- ✓ 50-75 total applications submitted
- ✓ Multiple interviews completed (aim for at least 5)
- ✓ Robust LinkedIn presence with 50+ connections
- ✓ Ongoing volunteer work with quantified results
- ✓ Internal opportunity explored (if applicable)
- ✓ Clear understanding of job market and your positioning
The Reality Check Tool: Are You on Track?
Even without a job offer at 90 days, you’re SUCCEEDING if you have these elements:
- ✓ Certification obtained
- ✓ Real Scrum Master experience (volunteer or workplace)
- ✓ 50+ quality applications submitted
- ✓ 5-10 interviews completed
- ✓ Strong LinkedIn presence with 50+ connections
- ✓ Active network attending meetups
- ✓ Clear understanding of what employers want
- ✓ Interview skills improving with each conversation
- ✓ Mental resilience despite rejections
If you have these at 90 days, you’re on track. Most career changers land their first role between months 3-12 depending on market conditions.
The Application Tracking Tool
Create a spreadsheet with these columns:
- Date Applied
- Company Name
- Position Title
- Application Source (LinkedIn, company site, referral)
- Status (Applied, Phone Screen, Interview, Rejected, Offer)
- Follow-up Date
- Notes (what went well, what to improve)
Review this weekly. If you’re not getting interviews after 30 applications, something is wrong. Either your resume isn’t getting past ATS systems, or your application materials need refinement. Adjust accordingly.
What Companies Actually Want in 2026
Let me decode job postings for you:
“2-3 years experience required” often actually means “demonstrate you understand Scrum and can facilitate teams.” Your volunteer work + certification + transferable skills satisfy this.
“Bachelor’s degree required” appears in many postings but isn’t universally enforced. Many accept equivalent experience or certifications.
The industries most open to entry-level career changers:
- Healthcare (operations and patient care backgrounds)
- Finance (business analysts and project coordinators)
- Education (teachers with facilitation skills)
- Government (operations and program management)
- Manufacturing (process improvement backgrounds)
Remote positions remain abundant: 5,000+ on LinkedIn, 334+ on Indeed. Many companies now accept fully remote Scrum Masters, though some have location restrictions for tax reasons.
Here’s what separates people who succeed from people who give up:
Persistence + System + Support
You now have the system. The 90-day plan. Week by week. Day by day.
But here’s the truth: most people will read this, feel inspired, and then… do nothing. Or they’ll start strong and quit after the first month because they don’t see immediate results.
Don’t be that person.
Your Next Steps:
Action Step 1: Print or save this 90-day plan. Put it somewhere you’ll see it daily. Cross off each week as you complete it.
Action Step 2: Start THIS WEEK with Week 1 actions. Don’t wait for the “perfect time.” Monday morning, read the Scrum Guide. Tuesday, set up your LinkedIn. Wednesday, take the Open Assessment. Build momentum immediately.
Action Step 3: For the complete system with ALL the templates, scripts, resume examples, LinkedIn profiles, interview question databases, and weekly check-ins that keep you accountable, check out my Scrum Career Compass course.
I’ve taken everything from this guide and turned it into a step-by-step program with video walkthroughs, downloadable templates, and community support. Hundreds of career changers have used this exact system to land their first Scrum Master role.
Visit the link in the description.
Final Thought:
Every experienced Scrum Master was once exactly where you are now, certified but inexperienced, uncertain but determined, facing rejections but persisting.
The difference between those who succeeded and those who gave up wasn’t talent or luck. It was persistence paired with strategic effort.
Your first Scrum Master role awaits. It won’t find you, you must find it through the proven pathways I’ve shown you.
72.6% of current Scrum Masters successfully transitioned from other careers. You’re not pioneering, you’re joining a proven path.
The Scrum Master community welcomes career changers who bring passion, fresh perspective, and commitment to continuous learning.
Welcome to the journey, and future welcome to the profession.
Now go execute Week 1. I’ll see you on the other side.
I’m Dejan. I teach people how to use Scrum.
I help teams work together better so they can build great products.
Why?
Because when teams work well together, they can do amazing things.
www.whatisscrum.org
