Youth & Young Professional Development
Career Basics
Program Dates: September 9, 2024 – June 30, 2025
The NAFOA Institute Career Basics is a free online career readiness and personal finance program designed for Native American youth and young professionals ages 18-27.
The program provides opportunities for participants to improve career readiness, and personal finance skills, and advance their understanding of issues impacting tribal economies.
Career Basics is also designed to prepare youth for the NAFOA Leadership Summit. Young professionals ages 22-27 years old participating in Career Basics are invited to apply for the NAFOA Leadership Summit.
Current Program Dates: September 9, 2024 – June 30, 2025
Subscribe to our Institute email list to get notified about future Career Basics dates.
Participants proceed at their own pace during their registered program dates, keeping in mind the closing date and upcoming Leadership Summit deadlines. The average curriculum completion time is 8-12 hours.
Career Basics is designed to be most helpful for:
- Undergraduate students in their Junior and Senior years.
- Recent college graduates.
- Early career professionals (0-2 years experience).
- Individuals looking to pivot careers.
To join Career Basics, participants must:
- Be a tribally enrolled citizen or descendant of an enrolled citizen with American Indian, Alaska Native, and/or Native Hawaiian ancestry;
- Be 18-27 years old at the time of enrollment;
- Reside within the United States;
- Have access to stable/consistent broadband internet connection.
Interested participants must complete an enrollment form to join Career Basics.
- Your registration will grant you access to the online curriculum which can be accessed at nafoa.instructure.com. Please check your email for further instructions.
- If you have any access issues, please email education@nafoa.org.
What You'll Learn
creating a personal narrative
Being able to market yourself is a critical skill. You are the protagonist of your job search, the author of your goals, and the publisher who promotes your story to your audience – potential mentors, employers, and a network of people who can help you reach your aspirations.
personal finance
Budgeting is an essential tool in your framework for making sound financial decisions. No matter your age or the amount of money that you have, it is never too early to start planning your income and expenses.
intro to career pathways in economics and finance
Get insights from Native American professionals on careers in economics, finance, accounting, and business.
interviewing & negotiating
The key to interviewing is preparation. A solid resume and cover letter, coupled with a smile simply aren’t enough. Preparing for an interview is a step-by-step process you must first understand, and then dedicate yourself to completing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Registration and Participation Questions
No. Please do not register anyone other than yourself.
If you would like to recommend someone else for the program, send us their name and contact information at education@nafoa.org, and we will extend a personal invitation.
Please contact us at education@nafoa.org explaining your interest in Career Basics. In some circumstances, we can allow those below 18 years old or over 27 years old to participate in the program.
However, please note, you will not be able to apply for the Leadership Summit.
Yes! The program is available for American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, First Nations, indigenous peoples from Central and South Americas, etc. residing within the United States.
You will receive an email with instructions on how to access the program shortly after registration.
Your registration will grant you access to the online curriculum which can be accessed at nafoa.instructure.com.
Participants may proceed at your own page, keeping in mind program closing dates and any upcoming deadlines for the NAFOA Leadership Summit.
Typically, participants spend 8-10 hours to complete the curriculum.
Yes! We encourage all interested youth ages 18 – 27 to register in Career Basics. You can still register and participate for Career Basics during the program dates even if you are unable to attend the Leadership Summit.
General Questions
Yes. In 2019, we received good feedback from Academy participants and have improved our online youth programming. NAFOA Career Basics addresses the same principles as the Academy in a more streamlined manner.
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide course materials outside of our online program platform. You may view the program syllabus for more detailed information about the program
If you are interested in having your students participate in Career Basics, we encourage you to ask your participants to register online and dedicate time during your program to work on the online curriculum.
Note: individuals must register for themselves using their own emails. Please do not register anyone other than yourself.
Please email education@nafoa.org for any Career Basics questions.
Thank You to Our Donors
The NAFOA Institute’s Leadership Summit, the virtual Career Basics program, and webinars are generously supported by philanthropic donations and individual donors.
To learn more about giving to the NAFOA Institute, email Cody Harjo, Director of Media and Learning Initiatives, at cody@nafoa.org.
