Overview To address the shortage of cyber security talent, Symantec first launched its Cyber Career Connection (Symantec C3) in 2014. It partnered with workforce development nonprofits to prepare nontraditional candidates — including women and people of color — for careers in cyber security. Later, the program was expanded to prepare other underrepresented groups who face barriers to employment, such as veterans and under-resourced young adults. The program's goal is to help close the cyber security skills gap by investing in skills training, hands-on experience and job-placement support for young adults without college degrees. The results are two-fold: Recruiting leaders have a new, more diverse pool of candidates to consider and qualified nontraditional candidates have new job options in entry-level technical roles.