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Internships & Jobs: NTU, UOB Kay Hian, and Ezbuy are hiring

How’s your job search coming along? If you need help brushing up your resume, read our recent article on the art of writing a resume as advised by experts. Meanwhile, check out these new job and internship opportunities with NTU, UOB Kay Hian, and Ezbuy.

#1: Nanyang Technological University – Trainee, Research Assistant in Parent-Infant Neural Connectivity

Image Credits: NTU

Allowance / Remuneration: S$1,800 – 2,500 monthly

NTU’s School of Social Sciences has nearly 100 faculty members and more than 1,700 undergraduates who major in the four-degree programmes the school offers: Economics, Psychology, Public Policy and Global Affairs, and Sociology. There are more than 180 graduate students in their PhD and MA programmes (by research), and MSc programmes in Applied Economics and Gerontology.

The Baby-LINC Lab in the Division of Psychology is headed by Asst Prof Victoria Leong. The lab conducts world-leading research on interpersonal neural connectivity between parents and infants, using a technique called “dual-EEG”. During early life, social interactions between infants and caregivers “gate” learning processes in the infant’s brain.

In this project, the candidate will learn to analyse dyadic-EEG data concurrently collected from infants and their parents during naturalistic learning scenarios. The aim will be to examine how the parent-infant neural network is modulated by social cues such as eye contact and infant-directed speech in order to facilitate early learning. This project can be completed through 100% virtual coaching since a large amount of data has already been collected and is ready for analysis. However, should circumstances permit, hands-on training in EEG data acquisition may also be provided to enhance the trainee’s learning experience.

Job Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field
Basic proficiency in Matlab (preferred) or other programming languages
Good knowledge of statistics and statistical software packages such as R and Statistica (preferred)
Interest in neuroscience and/or psychology
Good attention to detail
Effective communication and report writing skills

Key Responsibilities

Assisting with pre-processing of EEG datasets (e.g. checking for errors, removing artefacts)
Video coding of infant and maternal behaviour
Statistical analysis of behavioural data
Recruitment and screening of participants
Coordinating day-to-day (online) research activities (e.g. recruitment and scheduling of participants)
Performing other related duties assigned in support of the research projects

How to apply?

Apply via this link.

View the job post in full here.

#2: UOB Kay Hian Pte Ltd – Operations Temp

Image Credits: MoneyDuck

Allowance / Remuneration: S$1,000 – 1,500 monthly

UOB Kay Hian Pte Ltd claims to be the largest stockbroking house in Singapore with a strong presence in key financial centres in the region, UK and US. They provide a wide range of services to a diversified client base that includes corporations, institutions, and local investors. Clients can rely on the brand’s knowledge of key Asian financial markets to improve their investment decisions and portfolios.

Job Qualifications

Must be able to commit for at least 3 months, Mondays to Fridays
OT is required for this role
At least a Diploma holder
Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
No experience required, fresh graduates are welcomed

Key Responsibilities

This position will report to the Contracts Department, with the following duties:

Perform trade processing for Equities and Unit Trust
Checking of reports, data entry, and processing contra
Handle administrative tasks such as photocopying, faxing etc.

How to apply?

Submit your application to Angel Wong via this link.

View the job post in full here.

#3: Ezbuy – Human Resource Intern

Image Credits: Ezbuy

Allowance / Remuneration: S$800 monthly

Formerly known as 65Daigou, owned by EZbuy Holdings Limited, Ezbuy is a provider of online global shopping services. Founded in 2010 by a group of aspiring entrepreneurs, Ezbuy quickly rose to become one of the largest global shopping platforms.

According to the company, they currently provide global shopping services from China, USA, and Taiwan to more than 1,000,000 customers across Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Job Qualifications

Poly students or university students are welcomed to apply
Possesses basic knowledge of HR procedure
Active, pleasant personality, and cheerful
Good team player and able to work under minimal supervision
Proficient in MS Office, especially in MS Excel
Excellent English and Chinese speaking and writing skills are advantageous (in order to liaise with the Chinese speaking associates)

Key Responsibilities

Monitor staff’s time attendance
Basic recruitment
Staff communication & correspondence
Employee welfare, benefits & compensation
Creating quarterly newsletter
Basic administration work
Communicating with vendor or supplier
Assist to fixed asset management
Ability to manage and organize data and information for HR and finance
Assist document filing and receiving, basic paperwork
Additional duties assigned by the Management from time to time

How to apply?

Submit your application to Emma via this link.

View the job post in full here.

#4: Ezbuy – Marketing Intern (Beauty Marketplace)

Image Credits: The Low Down

Allowance / Remuneration: S$800 monthly

According to the company, they currently provide global shopping services from China, USA, and Taiwan to more than 1,000,000 customers across Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Job Qualifications

Ability to speak both English and Chinese – in order to liaise with Chinese speaking associates
Good skills in using office software including excel, ppt, etc.
Having photoshop skill will be advantageous.
Actively looking out for the latest trends.
Have good written and speaking skills.
Good understanding of beauty products.
Being fast and accurate.
Having analytical skills.
Being detail-oriented.
Able to adapt to different working environments.

Key Responsibilities

Communicate with beauty marketplace sellers to plan for campaigns and execute them with the guidance of the marketing team (in both English and Chinese)
Managing the beauty marketplace.
Creating new ideas to promote for sellers.
Managing and updating the website on the latest trends.
Analyzing sales, prices, and preparing recommendations.
Conducting research on the market competitiveness.
Critical thinking and able to work independently.
Assist in local marketplace operations.
Maintaining onsite assets such as campaign landing pages.

How to apply?

Submit your application to Tee Hao Wen via this link.

View the job post in full here.

Five Reasons Why Having Auto Insurance Is a Must

Having insurance on your car or truck is a smart idea for numerous reasons, not just because it is usually required but also to give you the peace of mind you deserve when something happens to your vehicle. After all, an accident can happen at any time and if your auto insurance isn’t current, you might have to pay for all of those repairs yourself. Regardless of your income, this is a huge burden for most people, especially when you consider what most car repairs cost these days. This is but one of the reasons why having car insurance on your vehicle is a must and below are a few other reasons as well.

It Is Often Required

Car insurance is often required by law, with each location being a little different regarding what you’d be responsible for if you are involved in an accident that is determined to be your fault. This is an important fact to consider because if this type of insurance is required and you aren’t covered, you’ll not only be required to pay for the costs of all of the repairs but you could also get fined because you didn’t have insurance in the first place. It is especially troublesome because let’s face it, car repairs can cost up to ten-thousand dollars in some cases.

It Can Help Protect Your Investment

The right type of auto insurance will help you keep your car well-maintained, and this is important since your vehicle can be one of the biggest investments you make. Especially if you own an expensive vehicle, you’ll want to make sure it stays in great shape year after year, and if you get into an accident without the right type of car insurance, or not enough car insurance, you may not be able to afford to get all of the work done that’s necessary for your car to look good. Of course, taking good care of your vehicle is about more than it looking good – it has to run right as well, and an insurance company will help make that happen whenever an accident occurs.

It Saves You a Lot of Money Over Time

Everyone thinks that car insurance is expensive and even though it can be a bit pricey depending on the circumstances, just one accident can make that amount of money seem insignificant. The longer you have car insurance, the more money it saves you. While it’s true that you can take your chances by not paying for this type of insurance and think that you’re saving money, you could easily be paying way more money than just the amount you’ve paid for car insurance up to that point when you have an accident while driving your car. Through the years, having up-to-date car insurance can save you a lot of money indeed.

Protection Against Mother Nature

Of course, car accidents aren’t the only reason to always keep your car insurance up to date. Mother Nature can also wreak havoc on your vehicle with hurricanes, earthquakes, mudslides, and all other natural disasters that can cause huge damages to your vehicle. Even if you never get into an accident, the elements can cause very expensive damages from falling limbs, heavy winds and rain, and flying debris that could come crashing into your vehicle at any time. Without insurance, this can damage your budget but you won’t have to worry about any of this with the right type of auto insurance.

You Can Enjoy Some Legal Protection

Even if the accident is deemed to be truly no one’s fault, this doesn’t mean that someone on the other side won’t try and sue you. This is where your insurance company can be a big help. If you get sued, the insurance company’s legal department will jump into action and help you every step of the way, fighting for you so that you always have someone by your side. Being sued can be very nerve-wracking for the average person but insurance companies have legal representatives who go to bat for you so that your side is represented from beginning to end, providing you with the peace of mind in these circumstances so that you’re much more likely to be successful in the end.

Renovating your BTO flat: Interior designers share some tips on budgeting, styles, and more

After getting over the excitement of purchasing your build-to-order (BTO) flat, it’s time to think about renovations. If you know not where to start, take it from the interior designers themselves as they share with you tips on budgeting, styles to go for, and more.

Set a budget

Image Credits: 99.co

As with most things, setting a budget will get you started on the right track. According to a spokesman for Qanvast, the data collected shows that homeowners of new apartments spend between S$30,000 and S$60,000 on renovations while renovation costs for resale units start at S$65,000.

However, he advises homeowners to budget for an excess of 10 to 20 per cent more. “It’s common for homeowners to spend more than their budget – upgrading to better tiles, adding carpentry work, or dealing with unexpected hiccups.”

Also, while you might be attracted to some low-cost packages, it’s good to do a background check before signing any contract. Mr Morris Teo, managing director of HomeRenoGuru, a renovation website, says: “Homeowners should be mindful when signing packages that appear very affordable. Reputable interior designers would usually include the entire renovation works in the initial contract.”

Also, make sure you are getting good quality materials for the price paid. As Ms Amy Picanco, a director at Aym Design and a council member of the Interior Design Confederation Singapore, rightly points out: “While it can be difficult, try to think long term – do you want a renovation that lasts for five or 10 years? This will affect the quality of the materials you use and may push prices up. However, it could save you a lot of time and money in the long run as it will be a lasting investment.”

The styles to go for

Image Credits: Houzz

Interior designer and founder of Wee Studio, Mr Yeo See Wee, comments, “If you have 10,000 pictures of every style, that makes it very difficult for you and your interior designer to decide what style to go with.” A lookbook with a few images representing the concept you like will do.

Architecturally trained interior designer Vanessa Ong suggests homeowners limit the colour and texture tones to up to five options. “Take time to observe spaces, objects, textures that inspire you or places you’ve visited. Your home should tell a story of who you are,” she adds.

Seek approval before hacking

Image Credits: blogspot.com

“Homeowners should think about how long they’ll be staying in the flat and what their plans for the future are so that the flat can provide for their future needs. Erecting a wall in the future will be an unnecessary, time-consuming, and costly endeavour,” said the spokesman for Qanvast.

However, if you’re sure about knocking down walls to create an open-concept living space, be sure to seek approval from the Housing and Development Board (HDB) first. You can read all about demolition and erection of walls here.

Maximizing the space you have

Image Credits: Qanvast

HomeRenoGuru’s Mr Teo says that new homeowners often misjudge the storage space they need. Planning with the future in mind is important. With that said, Ms Gwen Tan of Formwerkz Architects recommends homeowners to plan for more storage for future possessions.

Interior designers propose having built-in storage. For example, floor-to-ceiling shelves will help to maximize wall space and beds with storage beneath them will allow you extra space to store your stuff. Having illuminated bathroom mirror will save space as you can do away with an additional lamp.

Surefire Ways To Save Money While Taking Care Of Your Pets

As much as you love and adore your pets, long-term care adds up. From pet medications to cleaning supplies and vet visits, it is essential to reduce your expenses without endangering your pet’s health. Fortunately, there are many simple saving tips that can employ to keep the costs to a minimum.

CULTIVATE A SAFE SPACE

Responsible care starts with creating a safe environment for your pets. Prevent hefty and harmful accidents from occurring by storing poisonous, sharp, and dangerous items out of your pet’s reach. For instance, bleach and other household cleaners may cause serious accidents for your pets. Yarns can also get stuck inside your kitty’s intestines and cost you more than thousands of dollars for the surgery.

CONSIDER PET ADOPTION

The age-old advice encourages us to adopt and not to shop. Instead of making an impulse purchase at a pet shop, you can rescue lovely animals from animal rescue centers and other animal organizations. You can provide an adopted animal a wonder new life for a lower purchase price compared to investing on a purebred animal. Purebred animals such as Golden Retrievers can cost up to S$5,000, especially if they come with a pedigree certificate.

This tip is beyond saving money. It brings the fulfillment of knowing that you have saved a life too. Just ensure that you are adopting from a reputable animal welfare organization or a rescue center. One example is the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Singapore, houses a variety of animals since its existence in the 1800s.

REDUCE THE VET TRIPS

The best way to eliminate medication costs is to prevent diseases. Vaccination is truly cheaper than the treatment for your pet’s disease. Consult your vet about the vaccination that your pet needs such the vaccination against Feline Panleukopenia virus. This virus is a highly contagious, severe infection that causes gastrointestinal, nervous system, and immune system diseases.

If your pet is already sick, ask the professional if a generic brand of medication works as well as the branded one. Generic brands are cheaper than the branded ones but they can also give the same effect.

MAKE YOUR OWN PET TOYS

Resist the temptation of purchasing several pet toys from pet stores. Often times, cheap plastic toys are poorly made and can easily get broken. Handmade toys work just as well. Moreover, you will be able to make sure that your pet’s preferences are met, using safe materials.

Most cats are fond of cardboard boxes and laser pointers. While, most dogs are fond of tug-o-war toys or empty plastic water bottles tied-up in a sock. Search thru the web for more ideas!

SLASH YOUR PET’S DENTAL EXPENSES

Gingivitis can damage your pet’s kidney and your finances since it requires expensive treatment and professional cleaning. To avoid this, do regular dental care at home. Wrap a significant amount of gauze on your finger and swipe your pet’s teeth. Brush your pet’s teeth using pet-friendly toothpaste, which may come in savory flavors such as chicken or malt. Toothpastes usually cost about S$10 per tube.

GROOM YOUR PET AT HOME

It is not only safer to groom your pet at home during this time, but it is also cheaper. It is possible to groom your long-haired furbaby at home. All you have to do is to equip yourself with an ear solution, pet shampoo, brush, and nail clippers.

Opt for a pet shampoo that can ward off parasites and fleas such as the ones available in Carousell, Lazada, and Kohepets. Having this special formulation is helpful due to Singapore’s hot weather.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Which of these pet care saving tips are you already using? Feel free to share us some of your coveted tips!

How To Create Your Baking Starter Kit

There is no better time to bake than now!

In these stressful times, it is a good idea to find a healthy outlet to help you cope. A friend of mine and a couple of others have shared that they found peace in baking. Baking helps to distract you from the hard-hitting news brought by the pandemic. It also restarts your mind by keeping you engaged. Besides, just a whiff of a freshly-baked batch of cupcake and cookies can put your mind at ease.

What are you waiting for? Entertain yourself and your family by creating your own baking starter kit!

#1: DO YOUR RESEARCH

Baking is a combination art and science. You exude your creativity through using colorful decorations and unique ingredients. On the other hand, things need to be precise. Take your time when baking. Take your time when reading the recipe and formulating the best mixture. Start by knowing the most common baking equivalents.

Here are some of the common baking equivalents:

2 cups = 1 pint

2 pints = 1 quart

4 quarts = 1 gallon

3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon

4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup

5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon = 1/3 cup

#2: UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE

As with any field, baking has its own jargon. How can you read a recipe correctly when you cannot understand the commonly used terms? You need to educate yourself with the commonly used terms such as caramelize, combine, cream, stiff peaks, and whip.

a. Caramelize – to heat a sugar substance until it begins to turn brown.
b. Combine – to stir the ingredients together until mixed.
c. Cream – to beat sugar and butter together until a light, creamy texture and color has bee achieved.
d. Stiff Peaks – to whip egg whites or cream to the point at which a peak will stand completely straight up and out of the foam.
e. Whip – to stir briskly with a whisk to incorporate air.

#3: PURCHASE THE ESSENTIAL TOOLS

If you are a beginner baker or a master baker, it is helpful to gather the essential baking tools. Some of the essential tools include rolling pin, pastry brush, rubber spatula, wooden spoon, hand mixer, and measuring cup. Let me introduce you to some of these tools.

a. Measuring Cup – a tool that helps you to bake with precision. Having the full set of measuring cups and spoons is a must. It is better to have a set as you will be needing to measure both dry and wet ingredients accurately. Measuring cups usually come in a set of one cup, ½ cup, ⅓ cup, and ¼ cup. Measuring spoons usually come in a set of tablespoon, teaspoon, ½ teaspoon, and ¼ teaspoon.

b. Wooden Spoon – a sturdy tool that can help you stir various ingredients such as the thickest and heaviest dough. It is best to hand-wash your wooden spoon to prevent cracking.

c. Hand Mixer – an electrical or a manual kitchen tool consists of a set of beaters attached to a gear-driven mechanism to rotate the blades of the beaters. It helps to automate repetitive baking tasks such as stirring and whisking.

#4: CONSIDER BUYING A BAKING KIT

If all else fails, purchasing a Do-It-Yourself baking kit. As a newbie baker, you may be lost when it comes to finding the right ingredients to create a delicious cake or cupcake recipe. Fortunately for you, local stores offer Do-It-Yourself baking kits. It not only saves you time, but also some trips to the grocery!

a. DIY CHOCOLATE CAKE KIT BY JANICE WONG

Janice Wong, an award-winning chef, has brought her treats to our homes with the launch of Bake at Home. Her website includes baking tutorials and step-by-step baking recipes. While you cannot have her to for you everyday, you may create your own masterpiece with her DIY Chocolate Cake Kit.

It retails for S$42. The price is inclusive of: 1 Chocolate Cake Premix, 90ml Milk, 85ml Water, 30ml Olive Oil, 1 Egg, 1 Packet of Cream, 300g Cacao Barry Inaya 65% Dark Chocolate, 2 packets of Mini Chocolate Pearls, and a Cake board.

b. DIY CAKE DECORATING KIT BY 25GRAMS BAKERY

If your looking for vegan options, look no further than 25Grams Bakery. Their DIY Cake Decorating Kit retails for S$60. The kit includes a 6″ White Frosted Chocolate Cake, 4 frosting colors, Assorted Sprinkles and Sugar Balls, and 2 pairs of disposable gloves. As this kit focuses on the cake’s presentation, you may invite your child to help you in the kitchen.

c. DIY CUPCAKES KIT BY BAKEIN1

You may impress your family and friends by whipping up sugary treats such as lychee rose cupcakes, Nutella cookies, and molten lava cakes through the help of Bakein1. All you need is an oven and the ingredients inside their baking kits.

The Red Velvet Cupcake kit retails for S$23.90. The price includes the flour mix, frosting pack, and so much more. Check out their available recipes in their website!

Image Credits: unsplash.com

When baking, it is important to have fun. Everything tastes better when you are having a good time while making it. Do not roll your eyes. There is truth in this!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3