MoneyDigest - Personal Finance, Lifestyle, Money Saving Tips

Jobs: Apple, Singapore Polytechnic, and the Ministry of Social and Family Development are hiring

We came across a few job openings at Apple, Singapore Polytechnic, and the Ministry of Social and Family Development today. If you’re looking for a job, do beef up your resume before submitting your application.

Here are the details.

#1: Apple – Order Fulfilment Specialist (12 months contract)

Image Credits: The Straits Times

Founded in 1976, Apple probably needs no further introduction. It is an American multinational technology company headquartered in California. It is also one of the most well-known technology companies, alongside Google and Facebook.

The mission of Pacific Reseller Operations is to be the voice of the Reseller Channel within operations to ensure Apple products are in the right places at the right time. You will be supporting sales and Apple’s partners to achieve their financial goals. The team is focused on managing its supply chain as efficiently as possible, in order to maximize sales while driving for a frictionless order fulfilment experience.

Within the Reseller Operations team, this role is responsible for end-to-end channel order management from order induction to delivery. You will also need to ensure transactions in between are SOX and operationally compliant.

Job Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree preferred
A real passion for Operations with relevant experience in Order Management / Customer Service / Logistics Services roles.
Self-driven, but a collaborator with the ability to build and strengthen relationships.
Working knowledge of transactional systems and processes. SAP background preferred.
Demonstrate strong attention to detail and ability to shine under compressed timelines.
Adaptable, flexible, and open-minded to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment that undergoes constant change.
Deep understanding of customs and/or regulations within Asian countries.
Familiarity with Project Management methodologies and frameworks
Expertise on productivity tools such as Excel is an added advantage.
Filled with positive energy and takes initiative with a thirst for personal growth

Key Responsibilities

Independently process orders/RMA and handle order exceptions (block management, NPI conversions, cancellation, credit/debit notes) according to SOP within set SLAs and SOX requirements.
Manage inbound inquiries and provide active close loop communication.
Understand and ensure Key Performance Indicators and order fulfilment goals are met on a consistent basis.
Participate in order fulfilment initiatives/UAT aimed at improving processes and tools and/or systems.
Root cause and work with DRIs on order fulfilment exceptions.
Support New Product Introduction (NPI) execution activities as/when required.

How to apply?

Apply and view the job post in full here.

#2: Singapore Polytechnic – Senior / Lead Executive (Business Development), Professional and Adult Continuing Education (PACE) Academy #SGUnitedJobs

Image Credits: CNA

Singapore Polytechnic has been training and developing talent since 1957, fuelling the economic growth of our nation over many decades. Continuing Education and Training (CET) was given prominence in 1979 in Singapore Polytechnic when Singapore needed well-trained and skilled manpower to boost its push to value-added manufacturing and services.

The Professional & Adult Continuing Education Academy or PACE, launched at Singapore Polytechnic in 2010, provides the focal point for CET – as Singapore Polytechnic continues to build on their success in providing new and effective pathways for learners of all ages to develop their skills and knowledge so as to be employable in an ever-changing workplace.

Job Qualifications

At least 2 years’ experience in business development or sales, preferably in the context of adult training education.
A self-directed learner who is confident, exhibits initiative, and display good salesmanship
Possess marketing skills and ability to interact effectively
A self-driven individual who is both independent and a team player
Resourceful, with good interpersonal, organizational, and coordination skills
Good project management skills and time management
Some experience of sales & marketing would be an advantage

Key Responsibilities

Identify prospective customers/ trainees to identify new leads and potential new markets
Reach out to existing and prospective customers/ trainees through system applications, emails, telephone calls, events, webinars, meetings, and even face-to-face interactions
Implement corporate sales plans for client prospecting and acquisitions
Understand the learning needs of prospective individuals/ corporates and recommend training solutions
Follow-up with prospective individuals/ corporates to ensure successful lead conversions
Track business opportunities from GeBiz channels
Price courses reasonably by taking into consideration operating costs and market competitiveness
Work closely with course proposers from schools and training partners to scope training programmes in response to existing and new market demands
Maintain fruitful relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Collaborate with the Marketing & Events team for new course launches
Provide administrative support to the Business Development Team

How to apply?

Apply and view the job post in full here. Applications close on 30 September.

#3: Ministry of Social and Family Development – Operations Officer, Sector Management (Singapore Boys’ Home) #SGUnitedJobs

Image Credits: enablingvillage.sg

The mission of the Ministry of Social and Family Development is to nurture resilient individuals, strong families, and a caring society. At MSF, the team are professionals with a passion for people. They develop the “heartware” for Singapore through policies, community infrastructure, programmes, and services.

The Juvenile Homes comprising the Singapore Boys’ Home and the Singapore Girls’ Home, are Residential Centres for Holistic Youth Rehabilitation. The mission of the Juvenile Homes in working with youths is to “Restore Lives, Empower Transformation, and Recreate Future”, which will allow them to achieve life success and be a valuable member in the community.

Job Qualifications

Tertiary education with relevant experience in operations and staffing work in the social service setting
Proficient in IT, have strong analytical ability, and possess good writing & presentation skills.

Key Responsibilities

Assist in staffing, planning, and coordination work within the respective sectors.

How to apply?

Apply and view the job post in full here. Applications close on 28 September.

Here’s why you’re experiencing increasing intolerance for dairy products as you age

As we age, are you realizing an increasing intolerance for dairy products like milk, cheese, and ice cream? You’re not alone. According to the US National Institutes of Health, over 90 per cent of East Asians experience lactose intolerance.

After a cup of our favourite bubble milk tea, one might feel bloated, gassy, nauseous, diarrhoeal, pain in the abdomen, and/or even rumblings from the abdomen.

Here’s why.

It’s all in the digestive system

Image Credits: Portugal Resident

When we get older, our digestive system starts to produce less lactase. In fact, many Asians lack lactase to begin with. Lactase is an enzyme present in the small intestine which helps us to break down lactose into simple sugars.

The reason why you’re going through symptoms of lactose intolerance is because of the undigested lactose. The substance passes through our intestines and gets fermented by the gut bacteria.

Dr Alex Soh, a consultant with National University Hospital’s Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, said, “These symptoms often occur about 30 minutes to a few hours after consuming the lactose-containing food or beverage.”

“Its severity depends on how much lactose is consumed – higher amounts of lactose could result in more symptoms.”

Lactose intolerance is not to be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional gastrointestinal disorder. Though we can’t rule out the fact that peeps with IBS may not react well to lactose.

Here’s the solution

Image Credits: Freepik

Based on a study by Purdue University’s School of Consumer and Family Sciences, restoring your digestive system to accept dairy products again may be possible. To do so, one has to consume a controlled amount of dairy foods.

Professor Dennis Savaiano, the school’s dean, said, “If you only consume dairy products once in a while, you are more likely to have symptoms from them.”

“Also, if you consume them by themselves, as opposed to as part of a meal, they tend to be transported throughout the intestine more rapidly and are more likely to cause symptoms.”

The main idea is to start in small quantities and increase by the week. “By altering the diet over time, bacteria more effectively digest lactose, making milk very well tolerated.”

Products with lactose

Image Credits: Savory Experiments

Being aware of products with lactose is also key to a controlled diet. Lactose is not just found in cheese and yoghurt. It may also be present in foods such as salad dressings, biscuits, cakes, cereals, and pancake mixes.

Processed foods may also contain lactose. For your next grocery trip, you might want to pay special notice to these ingredients on the packaging:

Whey
Caseinates
Casein
Nougat
Milk byproducts
Dry milk solids
Dry milk powder
Butter
Curd
Nonfat dry milk

Dr Soh also points our attention to lactose powder, a common food additive found in some foods and condiments.

According to MedicineNet, lactose may even be present in over-the-counter medicines like some tablets for stomach acid and gas. The good news? It’s usually in small amounts and will most likely only affect those with severe lactose intolerance.

As we come to a close, Dr Soh highlighted that people with lactose intolerance are often able to tolerate up to 12g of lactose without symptoms. To increase your tolerance threshold, consume lactose with food.

You may also try supplementing with a lactase enzyme to improve lactose digestion and symptoms. And of course, please consult a doctor before popping any pills.

Jobs: LTA, Ministry of Law, and Singapore General Hospital are hiring

It’s a new week! Hope everyone’s off to a good start.

For those who are job searching, we chanced upon some openings with the LTA, Ministry of Law, and Singapore General Hospital. LTA’s vacancy closes on 15 September according to the job post so send your applications quick if you’re interested.

#1: LTA – Executive Assistant (12 months temporary contract) #SGUnitedJobs

Image Credits: LTA

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) spearheads land transport developments in Singapore. They plan, design, build, and maintain Singapore’s land transport infrastructure and systems.

They also aspire to strengthen Singapore’s land transport connectivity and integrate a greener and more inclusive public transport system complemented by walk and cycle options. The organization harnesses technology to strengthen Singapore’s rail and bus infrastructure and develop exciting options for future land transport.

The land transport network has transformed significantly since the inception of LTA in 1995, with more than 160km of expressways spanning the island, an MRT network of more than 200 km, 120 km of cycling paths, and increasingly varied commuting options.

Job Qualifications

Diploma in any discipline
Meticulous, proactive, and responsible
Pleasant personality and able to adapt easily
Strong command of English will be a plus
Good overall computing proficiency including Microsoft Office

Key Responsibilities

You will be supporting the Deputy Director in overall secretarial, administrative, finance, logistics, and project matters; support Division administrative tasks and initiatives.

How to apply?

Apply and view the job post in full here.

#2: Ministry of Law – Officer (Data Entry and Quality Control), Finance & Office Admin #SGUnitedJobs

Image Credits: Singapore Business Review

In Singapore, having the rule of law and advancing people’s access to justice are not just lofty ideals but the backbone of a functioning and a progressive society.

At the Ministry of Law, the team not only contributes to developing the legal frameworks and policies that uphold the public’s way of life but also provide community legal services that Singaporeans benefit from. The key policies they oversee include Singapore’s legal and intellectual property infrastructure, the civil and criminal justice systems, as well as land resources.

Their officers are experts from different fields and enjoy an excellent and challenging career in a fast-paced environment with plenty of opportunities to grow. If you share their vision of shaping the future of Singapore, you will be a right fit at the Ministry of Law.

Job Qualifications

Good knowledge in Microsoft Excel
Meticulous and fit for physical work
Preferably with digitization experience or data entry experience

Key Responsibilities

You will be part of the Records Management team. Your responsibilities include:

Quality Control (QC) checks on digitized files for completeness of scanning and defects.
Reporting of defects, using Excel for data entry, and creation of manifest for extracted records.
Physical work such as checking, moving, and repacking of files and cartons.

How to apply?

Apply and view the job post in full here.

#3: Singapore General Hospital – Executive, Integrated Care Operations (2 years Contract)

Image Credits: todayonline.com

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is the first and largest hospital in Singapore. It provides affordable specialist care for patients, training for doctors and other healthcare professionals, and conducts research to bring better care to its patients.

A not-for-profit institution, SGH is wholly owned by the government of Singapore and the flagship hospital of the public healthcare system. SGH is a member of the SingHealth cluster of healthcare institutions.

Every year, the SGH Campus caters to over 1 million patients. With a 10,000-strong workforce, SGH accounts for about a quarter of the total acute hospital beds in the public sector and about one-fifth of acute beds nationwide.

SGH is also accredited by the Joint Commission International for meeting its standards of safety and quality in healthcare. It is the first in Asia to achieve the Magnet Recognition in 2010 for nursing excellence awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Job Qualifications

A recognized degree in any discipline
Proficient computer knowledge (MS Office – Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Good communication and interpersonal skills
Effective team player who is resourceful and willing to learn
Good problem-solving skills with a “never-say-die” attitude

Key Responsibilities

You will be facilitating the development of and supporting new and existing care integration programmes. Your job duties include, but not limited to, the following:

Perform data collection, analysis, and reporting on the outcomes of key disease management programmes and other care integration activities to SGH Senior Management, MOH, the Agency for Integrated Care, and any other external agencies so as to support policymaking.
Coordinate and liaise with clinical departments and multi-disciplinary care teams to implement and carry out specific disease management and care intervention programmes
Develop community care outreach programmes and collaboration efforts with ILTC and Primary Care sectors.
Cooperate with external funding agencies e.g. MOH, AIC etc. and manage matters pertaining to external funding applications and grant submissions for care integration programmes.
Manage care integration activities in terms of planning, promoting, implementing and providing support for specific department events organized for internal/external stakeholders.
Other administrative duties such as work plan and budget preparation.

How to apply?

Apply and view the job post in full here.

This checklist will guide you in identifying an emotionally abusive partner

In this day and age, more people are increasingly aware that abuse doesn’t just come in the physical form. It also comes in the form of emotions like shame, control, and criticisms. Jean Chen XM, a psychotherapist at Relationship Matters, shares with us a checklist of signs to guide you in identifying an emotionally abusive partner.

Here’s it.

#1: Talks down to you

Using a harsh or authoritative tone, an emotionally abusive partner may treat you like a child instead of a partner.

#2: Socially isolates you

Such people also make it difficult for you to keep in touch with your loved ones such as family members and friends.

#3: Good with embarrassing you in front of others

They criticize you in front of other people or reprimand you loudly in a deliberate attempt for others to hear. Such partners may also intentionally drop something on the floor for you to pick it up.

#4: Their way is the highway

Image Credits: The List

An emotionally abusive partner does not consider your feelings most of the time. They often give a reason as to why they’re right and you’re wrong. Surprisingly, you may fall for their ‘logical’ explanation.

#5: Gives you the cold shoulder

If you find your partner giving you the cold shoulder more often than not, this could be a warning sign. This form of emotional disengagement results in emotional hurt and isolation which isn’t healthy for a long-term relationship.

#6: Being blamed for the wrong things that happen

They are capable of blaming you when things go wrong. Over time, you may not feel comfortable sharing your fears and needs. You are also not given the right to be angry and continuously labelled by them as selfish, demanding, paranoid, or unreasonable.

#7: Excludes you in a social setting

They have the ability to make you feel unaccepted in a group setting. Instead of sharing your positive attributes, they focus on the negatives and paint you in a bad light in front of their friends. Thus, making them seem like the only good person in the relationship.

#8: The common use of hurtful words

Image Credits: Freepik

Words have meaning and can be impactful. If your partner is constantly using hurtful words like ‘stupid’ and ‘useless’, this could be a sign of emotional abuse. Adding on to that, they often make you feel unimportant with their sarcastic comments. Emotional abusers often disguise an insult as a joke to leave you feeling small.

If you suspect yourself going through emotional abuse and in the search for free and affordable mental help in Singapore, please click through the link to see the list of avenues you can tap on.

Talk to someone professional and stay strong! There’s always light at the end of the tunnel.

GrabCar fined S$10,000 for risking the personal data of over 20,000 drivers and passengers

Last year, GrabCar informed the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) that profile data of 5,651 GrabHitch drivers were exposed to the risk of unauthorized access by other GrabHitch drivers through its app.

According to PDPC deputy commissioner Yeong Zee Kin, the cause of the breach was due to an app update on Aug 30, 2019. “The purpose of the update was to address a potential vulnerability discovered within the Grab app,” he said.

Risking the personal data of over 20,000 drivers and passengers

On Sep 10, the PDPC stated that the update risked the personal data of 21,541 drivers and passengers of GrabHitch. This includes profile pictures, names, and vehicle plate numbers.

But GrabCar managed to roll back the app to the previous version within about 40 minutes. They also took other corrective actions.

“Given that the organization’s business involves processing large volumes of personal data on a daily basis, this is a significant cause for concern,” PDPC said.

The technical details & insufficient robust processes

As per the PDPC’s findings, the app’s programming interface URL which allowed drivers to access their data had contained a “userID” portion. Manipulation to that particular portion could possibly allow access to other drivers’ data.

Mr Yeong said GrabCar had insufficient robust processes to manage changes to its IT system. As a result, putting personal data it was processing at risk.

“This was a particularly grave error given that this is the second time the (GrabCar) is making a similar mistake, albeit with respect to a different system,” he added.

Not the first time with a similar mistake in 2019

In 2019, GrabCar was fined S$16,000 after it sent out more than 120,000 marketing emails to customers containing the name and mobile phone number of another customer.

Grab explained that the incident was due to a mismatched database. Thus, each affected customer’s name and phone number was disclosed to one other individual.

The Grab spokesperson then said that to prevent a recurrence, they had immediately put in place more rigorous data validation and checks. This includes new processes that require a third person to perform sanity checks on data. They also promised to mask phone numbers in all their marketing campaigns.

Grab’s response this time around

To prevent this incident from happening again, Grab claims to have introduced more robust processes. This is especially so to their IT environment testing alongside updated governance procedures. They are also working on an architecture review of their legacy application and source codes.