As the number of companies adopting Scrum continues to rise, the demand for Scrum Masters and Product Owners is experiencing significant growth. This trend is no longer limited to internal career changes; we now frequently see companies recruiting external talent for mid-career roles and side-projects, seeking professionals who can deliver immediate value.
In this article, let's take a closer look at the high-demand role of the Scrum Master.
A Scrum Master is a professional accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide.
Naturally, the environment and products handled by a Scrum Master vary by company. However, since the role itself is defined by the Scrum Guide, the core responsibilities remain fundamentally the same (to learn more about these roles, please see "What is a Scrum Master?"). When applying for a Scrum Master position, a key point to avoid a mismatch is to use the interview process to confirm to what extent the company expects adherence to the Scrum Guide, and whether there are additional expectations beyond the Scrum Master role.
Let's also look at the demand for Scrum Masters. As of July 2022, data from Kyujin Box (operated by Kakaku.com) shows an upward trend in job listings. While the vast majority—about 80%—of these roles are based in Tokyo, the number of companies offering remote work is increasing, making it easier for professionals to take on these challenges from anywhere in Japan.
In many cases, Scrum Masters are expected to contribute to the organization as full-time employees. In fact, data from Kyujin Box shows that full-time positions account for approximately 80% of all listings. As mentioned in the "Scrum Master Checklist," a full-time Scrum Master typically supports 1 to 3 teams at a time. However, to fully leverage the benefits of Scrum, one should avoid combining the Scrum Master role with other roles within the same team. While this may be obvious to our readers, it is highly recommended to confirm your specific department and working arrangements during the selection process.
The role of a Scrum Master only becomes necessary when a company begins adopting Scrum. Consequently, companies introducing Scrum for the first time rarely have experienced Scrum Masters in-house. In such cases, while many start by following books or online resources, it is crucial to constantly refer back to the Scrum Guide and avoid over-customizing the framework during initial implementation.
Before stepping into the role for the first time, we highly recommend attending external training or seeking guidance from an Agile Coach. Our training programs go beyond helping you earn your Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) credential; they provide practical insights essential for successful Scrum adoption. Aspiring Scrum Masters will gain numerous 'ah-ha' moments and deep insights through these sessions.
Agile Coaches are professionals who not only possess extensive experience in Scrum but also specialize in developing Product Owners, Scrum Masters, executives, and managers. This role represents a significant career progression for experienced Scrum Masters. Odd-e Japan has several seasoned Agile Coaches on staff, and we invite you to consider leveraging their expertise to accelerate your growth.
In this article, we explored the job market and career paths for Scrum Masters. Even if attending external training or seeking guidance from an Agile Coach is not immediately possible, remember that the Scrum Guide describes Scrum as simple. As the guide suggests, try it as it is first, and build your experience by remaining faithful to the framework.
We offer Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) training.
Register via the link below.