What's up Ninja Nation!

Getting a job is hard for young people.

We see hundreds of "CV's" from young people applying for positions at Ninja Valley and they can be a tough read if they've not yet had much life or work experience. I recall my first CV at age of 16 and the "clutching at straws" for any relevant achievement that was more coveted than a Scouts Fire Safety badge 😂.

I look fondly back on my "kid jobs" and treasure them all as learning lessons and cash generators:

• Waikato Times newspaper round (aged 10-12) where I saved all $10 a week and bought my own ten speed bike worth $400 at age 11.

• Caltex service station pumping gas on Te Rapa Road for $2.50/hour (aged 13-15). I could check oil. water, tyres, fill the tank and eat all the pies I could handle.

• Foodtown butchery department, cleaning meat, blood, fat, guts, offal and other gunk from the floor, boards, knives, bacon slicer, mincer, bandsaw and walls after school and Saturdays. (age 16-18)

• I may have also picked Strawberries out Matangi to earn summer holiday spending money. Back breaking but I did digest hundreds of dollars worth of berries.

Jobs and the career landscape are changing rapidly - as a result of AI, robots, machine learning and a global job marketplace - but values, drive and attitude are more important than ever. Curiosity, reliability, accountability and a willingness to learn are crucial lifelong habits that will drive positive outcomes and opportunities.

Ninja Valley Hamilton** is thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new work experience program, designed to give Year 9-11 students a unique and fun opportunity to get a taste of the professional world. We believe in playing a positive influence wherever we can, and this program is a perfect example of our commitment to creating opportunities for our tribe to learn and develop skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. We're excited to be launching this new program on International Youth Day, August 12th!

**The program will likely be rolled out in Christchurch in Term 1, 2026.

What will you learn?

Our program is structured around key pillars that are essential for any workplace. You'll get hands-on experience and training in:

• Health and Safety: Learn to identify and mitigate risks, ensuring a safe environment for both staff and customers. Don't worry, the only danger you'll face is the risk of having too much fun.

• Customer Service: Master the art of excellent customer interaction and communication, a skill that is vital in any industry. You'll learn to handle any situation with grace, even when someone asks if the foam pit is filled with real marshmallows.

• The Way of the Ninja and Our 6 E's: Embrace our core values: Experience, Energy, Encouragement, Education, Engagement, and Enforcement. Yes, that includes learning the secret ninja handshake—just kidding! (Or are we?).

• Hygiene and Cleaning: Understand the importance of maintaining a clean and safe facility, a critical skill in the post-COVID world. You'll finally learn to expertly clean a toilet, operate a mop and vacuum cleaner, which will make you your parents' new favourite person.

• Point of Sale and Cash handling: money money money, where do we hide it?

• Barista skills: make your first ever flat white and Ninja G will do a live taste test.

Program Details

This five-week, unpaid work experience program will treat you to some free play time and, most importantly, you'll gain valuable, real-world experience that will make your CV stand out from the crowd. Following a trial pilot in Term 3, the full program will operate in Term 4, running from October 6th to December 12th. Each intake will last for five weeks, with sessions held after school, once per week, from 4:00-6:15pm on either a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. You'll be trained and mentored by Ninja Valley managers and buddied with crew, giving you a glimpse into your future work life and careers in a dynamic, exciting, and structured environment. Trainees will need be left to work alone.

Why are we doing this?

Ninja Valley exists to bring people together, to connect, to be active, to develop confidence, strength, fitness, skills and to create moments and memories for life. We strive to have a positive influence wherever we can and to create development and learning opportunities for the members of the Ninja Nation (guests, crew, community, organisations). This program aims to provide early building blocks on youth life experiences and career paths but also to provide opportunities for our own crew to develop leadership and mentoring capabilities for their own futures.

We just love seeing positive outcomes for our clan.

Who should apply?

We're looking for Hamilton-based passionate, enthusiastic, and dedicated Year 9-11 students who are ready to learn and grow. If you're looking for an opportunity to gain confidence, develop new skills, and make a positive impact, this program is for you. This is a chance to show future employers that you have the drive and determination to succeed. Plus, it's a great way to get on our radar for potential future paid roles at Ninja Valley!

How to apply?

Click here to apply via this Google Form.

Don't miss this opportunity to start your career journey and become part of the Ninja Valley family!

Applications close August 31st.

We can't wait to kick off the program in Term 4, a first for the NinjaVerse.

Yours Ninja'ly

Grant "Ninja G" Beuzeval

CEO/Co-Founder