RIT Career Launch Pad Building A Cyber protection apprenticeship

Our Career Launchpad project is laser-focused on creating additional inclusive pathways into the cybersecurity workforce. To meet that objective, our team developed and piloted a six-month full-time paid apprenticeship in cybersecurity consisting of 100% diverse participants who gained hands-on work experience with our staff. Apprentices furthered their workforce readiness through the completion of skill-building courses that prepared them to pass industry-required certification exams. The apprenticeship program leveraged internal RIT resources as well as expertise from the cybersecurity community at large to provide career coaching and transition support. As a result of this apprenticeship, 3/6 have successfully gained new cybersecurity certifications and 3 remain equipped to obtain these over the next year. This builds their portfolio of experience and professional certifications, which is particularly beneficial for diverse candidates in their job search. Even though we are just now finishing the program, 2 Apprentices have already secured full-time employment in cybersecurity and a stable living situation; one of those was a homeless veteran before entering our program. The other 4 Apprentices have progressed to gig-based cyber work and continue to build their professional portfolios.