Fono and So'o career planning workshops
Career Services staff run two types of career planning workshops for Pasifika secondary students:
- Fono, for senior secondary students
- So'o, for junior secondary students.
Fono - career days for senior Pasifika secondary students
What is the purpose of Fono?

- Students engage in an activity during a Fono career planning workshop
The Fono encourage senior students to:
- start thinking about their career options while they are still at school
- start preparing for their career of choice
- ask questions and seek advice from trained career consultants
- be inspired and inspire others to make the first steps.
What topics are covered in Fono?
Career Services career consultants lead students through activities and discussions about:
- personal qualities
- how students can describe themselves and why (job interviews, scholarship interviews, CVs and public speaking)
- skills – identifying what they are good at
- values – identifying what is important to them
- subject choices, and what different subjects will lead to
- jobs or careers, and what they involve
- how students' skills can be applied to different jobs
- how to get experience and learn skills
- where students can get help – family, friends, teachers or career advisers.
So'o - workshops for junior Pasifika secondary students
Career Services' So’o workshops for junior Pasifika students are held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch each year.
What is the purpose of the So'o?
So'o workshops encourage students to:
- value their cultural identity and personal strengths
- be more aware of the need to plan for their future
- have a better understanding of the importance of school subjects and their learning to future choices
- have fun!
What topics are covered in the So’o?
Career Services career consultants lead students through a series of activities and discussions about the importance of:
- research
- accessing resources
- developing coping strategies.
Information for parents
As a parent or caregiver wanting to help your children with their future, it’s important that you:
- understand what’s involved in career decision making for today’s youth
- understand the importance of subject choices
- find ways to help your children with subject choice decisions and thinking about their future.
If you would like more information about Fono or So'o career days near you, contact Career Services on 0800 222 733.




