Today, we are talking about how I’ve used Scrum principles to find a job and change my career altogether from being a supply chain manager to now being a product manager in a tech startup.
This question came from one of my podcast listeners (you can submit your question here). And before we dive in, let me be honest: Scrum is not a magic trick. It took me a few sprints to find a job. No false promises here — this is the real story of what worked and what didn’t.
Sprint #1 — Applying for Roles I Already Knew
Sprint goals
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Submit a set number of applications for supply chain manager and operations manager positions
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Send messages to 10 people on LinkedIn who might be hiring
Sprint outcomes
During the Sprint Review I realized:
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I received very few responses
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My network wasn’t hiring for supply chain roles
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Job postings for supply chain managers were scarce
It was clear the job market wasn’t strong for my previous role. So I knew I had to do something different in the next sprint.
Sprint #2 — Pivot to Business Analyst Roles
I widened my search to see which positions were in demand. Business analyst jobs were everywhere — and after reviewing BA postings, I realized I had the skillset to qualify if I changed my resume.
Sprint goals
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Update resume to target BA roles (The definition of done for the goal: I have a resume that has all the keywords that I need to have for a business analyst position.
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Schedule calls with friends working as BAs
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Apply for a set number of BA jobs
Sprint outcomes
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The response rate was significantly higher than in Sprint #1
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Conversations with my BA friends led to practical improvements in my resume
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BA roles were clearly a good fit and in high demand
So I decided to continue this strategy in the next sprint.
Sprint #3 — Continue BA Strategy + Run a Mini-Experiment
Sprint goals
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Apply for a set number of BA jobs
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Message a set number of people on LinkedIn hiring for BA roles
Sprint outcomes
Mid-sprint, something interesting happened: I started seeing more product manager roles — positions I hadn’t seen before. The job market was shifting quickly.
So I kept applying for BA roles (the winning strategy), but I also submitted a few PM applications as a mini-experiment.
It worked.
I received multiple interview invitations for product manager roles and ultimately received two job offers for product manager positions.
That’s how I transitioned from supply chain → tech.
The Strategy Behind It: Find a Job One Experiment at a Time
I started with a very safe approach. In Sprint 1, I was applying for supply chain manager roles – the job that I have done before. It was experiment #1. This experiment failed.
In sprint 2, I pivoted. I analyzed the market and started apply for Business Analyst roles. This was experiment #2. This experiment succeeded.
In sprint 3, I stuck with a winning strategy of applying for BA roles. But I stayed open to how the job market was changing. And it was. It was changing fast. I started seeing more Product Manager positions that required a similar skillset to BA roles. I apply to a few as a mini-experiment within a sprint and it worked!
Learn more about cultivating the experimental mindset here.
How to Find a Job the Agile Way
If you want to use Scrum in your own job search, here’s the system I recommend:
Step 1 — Analyze the job market
Look at what companies are hiring for right now — not what you wish they were hiring for.
Step 2 — Treat each sprint as one experiment
Commit to one strategy for 2–3 weeks.
If it fails, pivot. If it works, continue.
Step 3 — Have no more than three job-search goals per sprint
Examples:
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Resume enhancement work
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Number of applications submitted
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Networking
Step 4 — Talk to people who already have the job you want
Ask about:
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How they got the role
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Interview advice
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Typical salaries
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Recruiter outreach
You’ll be surprised how often people get recruiter messages even when they’re not job hunting. Referrals happen here.
Step 5 — After 3 weeks, slow down and reflect
Give yourself white space to review:
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What worked?
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What didn’t work?
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Which strategy deserves another sprint?
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Which experiment should you try next?
This rhythm turns a chaotic job search into a calm, structured project.
Related Posts You May Find Helpful:
- “How to start a side project with full-time job.” If you have a full-time job and you want to embark on this journey of finding a new job, you will be treating it as a side project to your current full-time job.
- “Sprint retrospective for personal productivity.”
- “Time blocking reduces stress.” Looking for a new job is frustrating. There’s no better tool than time-blocking in fighting with overwhelm and frustration.
- “The one question that turns a lazy day around.”
- “How to use the Definition of Done for personal productivity.” “The Definition of Done” is one of the most important scrum concepts that you can apply for your personal productivity. Especially for projects such as finding a new job because it’s so ambiguous.
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