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Most Beautiful & Delicious Mooncakes for Under S$100

The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, marks the end of the autumn harvest and is a time of reunion under the glowing full moon. In 2024, this festival falls on September 17th.

In Singapore, the festival is a time for families to enjoy vibrant Chinese lantern displays and other light shows at night. Children especially love the Mid-Autumn Festival for the mooncakes and the chance to parade around town holding lanterns with their parents.

MOONCAKE TRADITION

Mooncakes are the quintessential treat of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Traditionally filled with sweet bean paste or lotus seeds, these round pastries have deep cultural significance. The shape of the mooncake symbolizes the full moon, reflecting the festival’s origins in moon worship and harvest celebrations. While the religious aspects have faded, the mooncake remains a delicious and meaningful part of the festivities.

In earlier times, lanterns were crafted from colorful Chinese paper and lit with wax candles. Today, you’ll see lanterns made from cellophane bags and hangar wires, or store-bought versions powered by batteries and shaped like popular cartoon characters.

WHERE TO BUY THEM

#1: INTERCONTINENTAL SINGAPORE

For a luxurious mooncake experience, Man Fu Yuan at InterContinental Singapore offers a collection that’s as gorgeous as it is tasty. The Blossom and Botany snowskin mooncake collection features four new citrusy flavors, each molded into the restaurant’s iconic rose silhouette and paired with a delightful chocolate truffle center. Additionally, health-conscious individuals will appreciate their low-sugar baked mooncakes. Prices start from S$96 for four baked mooncakes.

Image Credits: singapore.intercontinental.com

What’s more? You can use the code “MCK20” for 20% savings on all mooncakes until September 17, 2024. Selected credit cards enjoy 25% savings too. Order here: singapore.intercontinental.com

#2: CAPITOL KEMPINSKI HOTEL

Capitol Kempinski Hotel offers mooncakes in striking gold-embossed turquoise boxes, featuring new baked flavors like Red Bean Osmanthus with Mixed Nuts and Black Sesame Paste with Egg Yolk. Their new snowskin options consist Mocha Bailey’s and Yuzu Osmanthus. Prices start from S$72 for a set of eight mini baked mooncakes.

Image Credits: shop-capitolkempinski.myshopify.com

Enjoy up to 30% off on orders placed before August 31, 2024, with exclusive privileges for UOB, OCBC, DBS, and Citibank cardmembers. Get it here: shop-capitolkempinski.myshopify.com.

#3. MANDARIN ORIENTAL SINGAPORE

For a touch of Peranakan charm, Mandarin Oriental Singapore offers mooncakes packaged in elegant boxes inspired by the hotel’s wall murals. The Cherry Garden Four Treasures box, priced at S$92, includes flavors like Chestnut with Exceptionally Singapore Tea and Almond, and Low Sugar White Lotus Paste with Tropical Oasis Tea and Coconut. Sounds delish, right?

Image Credits: singapore.mandarinorientalshop.com.

Purchase it here: singapore.mandarinorientalshop.com.

#4: ORCHARD HOTEL

Hua Ting Restaurant at Orchard Hotel presents an exquisite selection of mooncakes in sustainable craft boxes. Their offerings include the Black Sesame with Melon Seeds (S$80 per box of 4) and White Lotus Paste with Double Yolk and Macadamia Nuts (S$86 per box of 4) .

Image Credits: millenniumhotels.com

Indulge in up to 25% off with their Early Bird Mooncake Promotion until September 2, 2024. Available here: millenniumhotels.com.

#5: ST. REGIS SINGAPORE

For those who prefer a smaller indulgence, St Regis Singapore’s Petite Gift Set offers two baked mooncakes or four mini snowskin mooncakes for S$65.80. The elegant pale blue-sleeved box includes flavors like Pu’er Tea with Melon Seeds or Red Dates and Walnut Paste with Lychee Martini Truffle.

Surely, these delicately delicious mooncakes are best paired with refreshing tea! Grab a set at giftwithstregis.oddle.me.

Image Credits: giftwithstregis.oddle.me

These mooncakes not only make the perfect gift but also serve as a delightful way to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with loved ones. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to all!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5

Latest WFH internships posted from 26 to 29 August 2024

It’s the last Friday of August before we step into the last month of Q3 2024.

If you’ve yet to secure yourself a WFH internship opportunity, scroll on.

#1: TanTan Tribe – Customer Success Intern

Website: tantantribe.com

Allowance / Remuneration: $450 – 1,200 monthly

Job Qualifications

Currently pursuing or recently completed a Certificate, Diploma, or Degree in Business, Communications, Marketing, or a related field.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Passionate about customer success and user experience.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt quickly to changes.
Analytical mindset with attention to detail.
Proficiency in MS Office, Google Suite, and basic data analysis tools.
Prior internship or work experience in customer support or success is a plus.
Multilingual abilities, especially in English and any SEA language, are a bonus.

Key Responsibilities

User Support: Assist with handling user inquiries and issues through email, chat, and social media channels.
Onboarding Assistance: Help new users navigate the app, understand key features, and provide onboarding support to enhance their experience.
Feedback Collection: Gather feedback from users to identify common challenges, opportunities for improvement, and areas of success.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with product, marketing, and support teams to ensure consistent communication and alignment on user needs.
User Retention: Assist in developing and implementing strategies to increase user retention and satisfaction.
Data Analysis: Monitor user success metrics, track performance, and create reports to highlight key trends and insights.
Content Creation: Contribute to user guides, FAQs, and other customer support content to help users make the most of TanTan Tribe.
Event Support: Provide support for community events, webinars, and other user engagement activities.

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and send your resume and a brief cover letter explaining why you’re interested in this position to [email protected].

#2: Commun1ty – Growth Hacking and Growth Marketing Intern

Website: commun1ty.sg

Allowance / Remuneration: $800 monthly

Job Qualifications

Passionate about community building and the mission of connecting neighborhoods
Creative thinker with a deep interest in solving problems
Pragmatic and implementation-oriented mindset
Deep understanding and knowledge of local communities
Experience with conducting local programs or partnerships

Key Responsibilities

Discover and define target segments and use cases for experimentation
Develop content, including in-app content, relevant for experimentation
Conduct user testing to validate the experiment
Develop insights based on user feedback
Develop and launch go-to-market plans, including strategies for collaborations and partnerships

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and write to Ervin via this link.

#3: AGrader Learning Centre – Teaching & Curriculum Writing Intern (Pri / Sec)

Website: agrader.sg

Allowance / Remuneration: $1,800 monthly

Job Qualifications

Excellent coordination, communication, and time management skills
Passionate about developing a career in the Education Industry
Meticulous, with an eye for details
Equally motivated by working independently as well as collaborating in a team
Create and maintain a safe and conducive learning environment for students
Any tutoring experience would be an advantage
5-day work week (Tuesday to Saturday)

Key Responsibilities

Work with the curriculum team at AGrader to design and develop a curriculum in alignment with the latest MOE syllabus
Assist in developing new content/initiatives to enhance the existing curriculum
Review and vet curriculum to increase support to teachers, constantly innovating to create better content.
Plan, prepare and deliver lessons
Perform additional duties as assigned

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and apply for this position via their career page at agrader.sg/career.

#4: Pawkit Pte Ltd – Customer Service and Marketing Intern (Animals / Pets)

Website: pawkit.sg

Allowance / Remuneration: $700 – 1,100 monthly

Job Qualifications

Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a degree program in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field.
Passion for pets and the pet care industry.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.
A basic understanding of SEO and digital marketing principles is a plus.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Workspace, and familiarity with website management platforms (e.g., WordPress) are preferred.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Service:

Handle customer inquiries via email, phone, and chat, providing timely and accurate information about services.
Assist customers with booking services and navigating the Pawkit platform.
Process bookings and ensure all customer details are accurately recorded in the system.
Resolve customer issues and escalate complex cases to the appropriate team members.

Product Listings:

Upload and manage product and service listings on the Pawkit website.
Ensure all listings are accurate, up-to-date, and well-presented.
Assist in creating and updating product descriptions, images, and pricing.

Website Copywriting:

Update and edit the website content to ensure it reflects the latest offerings and company messaging.
Assist in creating engaging and informative copy for service pages, blog posts, and promotional materials.
Collaborate with the marketing team to optimize content for SEO.

Offline Marketing:

Support the distribution of marketing materials, such as flyers and brochures, in targeted locations.
Assist in organizing and attending local events, fairs, or meetups to promote Pawkit’s services.
Help with other marketing activities as needed to raise brand awareness.

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and submit your resume, a brief cover letter explaining your interest in the role, and any relevant work samples (e.g., writing samples, project work) to [email protected].

#5: Weh Media Pte Ltd – Digital Marketing Intern

Website: wehmedia.com

Allowance / Remuneration: $800 – 1,100 monthly

Job Qualifications

Strong interest in digital marketing and a desire to learn and grow in the field.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Familiarity with social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn).
Basic understanding of digital marketing concepts such as Meta Ads, Google Ads, and content marketing.
Proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive).
Experience with graphic design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite) is a plus.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.

Key Responsibilities

Assist in the creation and execution of digital marketing campaigns across various platforms (e.g., social media, email marketing, SEM, etc).
Conduct market research to identify trends and insights that can be used to optimize campaigns.
Help manage and update social media accounts, including creating and scheduling posts.
Support the development of content for blogs, websites, and social media channels.
Monitor and analyze the performance of digital marketing campaigns, providing insights and recommendations for improvement.
Collaborate with the design team to create visuals and graphics for digital marketing campaigns.
Participate in brainstorming sessions and contribute creative ideas for marketing initiatives.
Curating content through on-site filming & production.
Create basic social media assets (Static Images, GIFs, Videos).

How to apply?

View the job post in full here and apply for this position by submitting your resume or cover letter to [email protected] with the title: Application of Digital Marketing Internship.

Editor’s note: These positions are selected based on the “remote” tag, but some are hybrid ones and you may need to report physically to the office. For more deets, do contact the employer directly.

Heymax and Visa launch campaign to reward Singapore’s public transport commuters

Want to earn miles for your daily commute with Heymax and Visa?

Heymax, a lifestyle rewards app based in Singapore, has teamed up with Visa to launch a new campaign focused on sustainability.

From now until 28 November 2024, Heymax users can earn rewards just for taking public transit.

Commuters who link their Visa card to the Heymax app will receive three Max Miles for every dollar spent on MRT or bus rides.

This small reward adds up over time, while also encouraging greener travel choices.

Riders can accumulate miles with every trip, bringing them closer to prizes like business class flights to Japan worth 200,000 miles.

Joe Lu, Heymax CEO, noted that they are seeing a growing passion among Singaporeans to travel free using loyalty points.

While the miles can fund future adventures, the core goal is to nurture sustainable habits daily, he added.

By incentivizing public transport, Heymax aims to balance promoting local green actions with global travel experiences for members.

Research shows Singaporeans increasingly rely on loyalty programs for travel rewards and Heymax data found Agoda, Trip.com, Klook, and Singapore Airlines to be top merchants.

The loyalty market is projected to grow almost 10% annually through 2028.

This campaign also complements Singapore’s $60 billion public transport investment by 2030.

“From MRT & Bus to Miles: Heymax & Visa Reward Your Rides” Campaign T&Cs

General

The campaign runs until a total of 2 million Max Miles are earned across all Heymax users.
There’s no limit on how many Max Miles each user can earn. Miles from bus or train rides will be pending until transactions are approved and then added to your account.
New users who link a Visa card for the first time during the campaign get a bonus of 100 Max Miles.

Grand Prize Drawing

To enter the drawing to win big prizes:

Take at least one bus or train ride with your linked card during the campaign
Keep a card linked through the end of the campaign

Two lucky winners will be selected randomly from eligible users. The more you transit, the better your chances of winning!

Winners will be announced after the campaign ends and contacted by email.

For more info, head to heymax.ai/campaign/visa-busmrt

Good luck!

About Heymax

Heymax is making travel rewards easy and flexible for consumers based in Singapore.

As a travel rewards and personal finance platform, Heymax allows users to earn Max Miles from everyday purchases made with over 500 major merchants.

These Max Miles can then be redeemed directly for flights or transferred to 25 airline and hotel partner loyalty programs worldwide.

Beyond just flights, Max Miles provides options through gift cards as well.

Even better, the miles never expire and are free of annual fees so you have total freedom and flexibility when redeeming.

Since launching their proprietary loyalty currency Max Miles in late 2023, Heymax has seen tremendous growth.

Over 60,000 users in Singapore have earned a collective total of 80 million Max Miles through the platform and those miles have already been put to good use, as customers have redeemed over 10,000 flights.

In partnership with Visa, Heymax also provides a handy tool for tracking spending across credit cards with the Card Maximizer feature giving real-time insights into transactions and accumulating rewards.

To learn more, visit heymax.ai.

All image credits to Heymax.ai.

Singapore’s new jobseeker support scheme to provide up to $6,000 for involuntarily unemployed residents

Singapore is launching a first-of-its-kind program to support those who have recently lost their jobs.

Good news, huh?

A new scheme that provides up to $6,000

The new SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme will provide up to $6,000 over six months to eligible residents.

Only Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 21+ who previously earned up to $5,000 on average per month can apply for the scheme.

Applicants must also live in a home valued at $25,000 or less annually.

Stacking multiple forms of financial aid is also allowed under this new scheme.

An estimated 60,000 residents will qualify each year, covering over 60% of involuntarily unemployed individuals and the government has allocated over $200 million annually to fund this initiative.

Who can apply?

To receive support, applicants must have involuntarily lost their job through no fault of their own—such as due to layoffs, business closure, or firing despite reasons like illness/injury.

They must also have worked steadily for at least 6 months in the past year.

Ongoing job searching and career development activities are also required to keep payments coming each month.

How’s the $6,000 split?

Payments will start at a maximum of $1,500 in the first month and gradually decrease each month.

Maximum monthly payouts for eligible jobseekers under SkillsFuture JS scheme

Image Credits: mom.gov.sg

Higher amounts are provided upfront to ease financial stress immediately after losing a job.

Payments then gradually decrease each month to encourage quickly securing new employment.

This program aims to balance offering needed short-term assistance without allowing overly lengthy joblessness that can impact future employability.

Singapore’s leaders and workforce officials hope this new scheme will help residents weather sudden unemployment and get back on their feet faster through the support and guidance provided.

Staying motivated in one’s job search is key to taking full advantage of this new program.

More monetary support other than this new scheme

Households facing financial hardship have options beyond just jobseeker support.

You may also qualify for assistance through ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance or the Goods and Services Tax Voucher scheme.

Plus, if you enroll in eligible full-time training through SkillsFuture Level-Up or a company attachment via WSG’s Mid-Career Pathways, you could receive extra cash on top of your jobseeker support payments.

Both programs offer training allowances to supplement your income, provided you meet each program’s criteria.

For example, SkillsFuture Level-Up provides up to $3,000 per month for up to two years to citizens 40+ in selected long-form courses.

The amount depends on half your average income from the last full year.

Meanwhile, Mid-Career Pathways gives citizens and PRs 40+ up to $3,800 monthly during a 4 to 6-month attachment.

So look into stacking supports from multiple qualifying programs to maximize your financial support during career transitions or skills upgrades, if you meet those criteria.

Mpox 101: Guide to Understanding the Virus

WHAT IS MPOX?

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral infection characterized by flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions. This illness is caused by two strains of the monkeypox virus (MPXV), identified as Clade I and Clade II.

Until 2022, Mpox was primarily reported in Central Africa (Clade I) and West Africa (Clade II), where the virus is endemic. Cases outside these regions were usually linked to travel or exposure to imported animals. Common symptoms include:

a. Skin rashes
b. Fever
c. Muscle pain
d. Headaches
e. Back pain
f. Swollen lymph nodes
g. Fatigue or significant weakness

According to the Ministry of Health, the virus spreads through direct contact with an infected person’s skin lesions, body fluids, or respiratory droplets. It can also spread via contaminated materials or environments. Additionally, animal-to-human transmission can occur through bites, scratches, or direct contact with an infected animal’s blood, fluids, or skin lesions.

SPREAD AND RISK FACTORS

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported over 15,600 potential cases and 548 deaths from Mpox since the beginning of the year. Some cases have also emerged in other African nations, as well as in countries like the Philippines, Pakistan, Thailand, and Sweden.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung highlighted that the current risk of Mpox in the country remains low, mainly due to the lack of direct flights to the African regions where the virus is most prevalent. However, health officials remain cautious, as the virus is expected to spread to Europe and the Middle East. As of August, Singapore had reported 13 cases of the less severe Clade II, which typically spreads through close contact.

SCREENING AND PRECAUTIONS

Singapore has implemented strict measures to contain the virus, similar to those seen during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of August 23, travelers and crew arriving at Singapore’s international airports from regions at risk of Mpox outbreaks will undergo temperature and visual screenings. The same measures will apply at sea checkpoints for those arriving by ship from affected areas.

PREVENTION AND FURTHER ACTION

A newer variant of the virus, Clade Ib, is showing a higher transmission rate, especially among children, through close contact. Global concerns have risen due to this new strain emerging in Central Africa, which appears to spread more easily through routine human interaction. This new variant has a mortality rate of about four percent, prompting the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency. The goal is to prevent another widespread lockdown or other unpleasant effects similar to those experienced during the pandemic.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Although the risk of Mpox spreading in Singapore remains low, increased vigilance is essential. If you are at high risk, frequently wash your hands and wear a face mask in crowded, indoor spaces. Continuing to seek medical care for skin lesions and following infection prevention measures, as mentioned, are crucial to preventing further spread of the virus.

Sources: 1,2, 3, & 4