Interviewing Scrum Master | BarRaiser

Scrum Master provides the theoretical framework of this approach. He explains its values, roles, and working mechanisms: the product is developed iteratively, and the length of an iteration (sprint) usually varies between one and four weeks. However, you can choose a different interval. The iterative approach allows the team to work more harmoniously, get feedback faster, and make necessary adjustments during development, thus completing a product that users really need. The Scrum Master is not limited to working only within this framework. He can use all approaches and practices from both Agile and other concepts such as Kanban or Lean Startup, and can also mix different approaches.

How does a Scrum Master do this?

Typically, a Scrum team consists of a product owner, developers, and a Scrum Master. The development team may include front-end and back-end developers, product designers, and software testers. It’s advantageous for Scrum teams to be small because it simplifies communication among the team members. During a sprint, the team engages in the following activities:

Planning: The team comes together to discuss and estimate the tasks for the upcoming sprint. Each task is reviewed, and the team sets goals for what they aim to accomplish.
Stand-ups: These 15-minute daily meetings ensure everyone is aligned on the sprint’s progress. Despite the informal name, the meeting is structured. Each team member answers three key questions: What was completed yesterday? What is planned for today? Are there any blockers? This format provides immediate feedback on any issues, helping to keep the project on track.
Sprint Review: At the end of the sprint, the Scrum team and stakeholders gather to review the completed work. The team demonstrates the functionality built during the sprint, and stakeholders provide feedback on the product.
Retrospective: This meeting occurs after the Sprint Review, allowing the team to reflect on what went well and what didn’t. The team discusses any areas for improvement and how to make the next sprint more efficient.

Role of Scrum Masters

You can create them and place them in your task tracker (Jira, Trello), put them on the wall as stickers, or use them in another format. It all depends on the preferences of the product owner and the team. Grooming the backlog includes clarifying task details, formulating them, preparing a plan, and determining their value to users. Regular grooming is key to a healthy backlog.

In all these activities, the Scrum Master acts as a facilitator—someone who helps the team communicate well and achieve the meeting goals. Do you remember how many times you have been in chaotic meetings from the very first moment and eventually got out of control?

Thus, the moderator’s main task is to direct participants’ attention to the meeting goal and help them achieve it. He organizes interaction within the team so that the meeting does not turn into a holy war and the work progresses. The Scrum Master prepares all meetings, chooses the appropriate format, and collects feedback.

Interview Structure of Scrum Master

You can divide the interview into four parts to cover all essential topics across rounds.

Round 1: Initial Screening (Duration: 30 minutes) – This round assesses the candidate’s basic knowledge of Scrum methodologies and their overall experience as a Scrum Master.
Round 2: Technical Assessment (Duration: 60 minutes) – Here, the focus is on evaluating the candidate’s technical understanding of Scrum and familiarity with project management tools.
Round 3: Scenario-Based Assessment (Duration: 60 minutes) – This round involves testing the candidate’s ability to handle real-life Scrum scenarios and challenges.
Round 4: Cultural Fit and Final Decision (Duration: 30 minutes) – This final round assesses the candidate’s cultural fit within the organization, ensuring alignment with the company’s core values and objectives.

Interview Questions for Scrum Master

Can you share your experience as a Scrum Master with some of the projects you handled?
What skills are most important when leading a Scrum Team, and why?
What are the key values of Agile, and specifically, how does Scrum embrace them?
How do you resolve conflicts that arise in a Scrum team?
How do you feel about working with Scrum tools like Jira or Trello?
How will you ensure the team is ready for the Scrum ceremonies?
What do you think are the most important metrics for assessing the results of a Scrum project?
How do you make sprint planning and estimation effective?
What is velocity, and how is it measured?
What strategies do you employ to guarantee the high quality of the team’s deliverables?
How do you manage scope increase in Scrum projects?
What actionable steps do you take to facilitate sprint retrospectives?
How do you deal with the product owner and product dreamer regarding the amount of work the team seeks to accomplish in the sprint?
Give an example when it was required to explain the abstract of Agile to one of your teammates.
Explain what you would do if a stakeholder arises with several requests beyond the current sprint scope.
What steps do you take to ensure that communication between the Scrum team and stakeholders is productive?
What is your way of encouraging the motivation of the Scrum team?
Please provide an example of a creative adaptation of the Scrum process that worked under unique conditions.
How compatible do you think you will be culturally with our organization in terms of values and ways of working?
Provide an example of when you had to make a difficult decision as a Scrum Master.
What are your long-term career plans as a Scrum Master?