Regina Public Library has a wide range of free resources and programs available to meet your specific needs.

Business Services May 20, 2020, 9:19 AM

Free Career and Entrepreneurial Resources

As the COVID-19 pandemic affects all aspects of Canadians’ life, many of us are practicing social distancing. Some of us may be recently out of work due to layoffs or closures of business; others may continue to work from home with reduced hours. This new reality can be disorienting and financially stressful as we face these sudden changes. While staying home and having more free time on your hands, you’ve likely thought about searching for ways to learn essential skills that can make the eventual return to work smoother or open doors to new opportunities as we adapt to the changing business environment.

Whether you’re planning to start a business, preparing for re-opening, looking for a job, or simply just want to improve your skills to protect your personal finances, Regina Public Library has a wide range of free resources and programs available to meet your specific needs.

Here is how we can help you make the most out of your time at home to upgrade your skills and stay on track without spending money.

Resources for business owners

If you are a business owner with your physical storefront shut down, perhaps you are transitioning to e-commerce and starting offering online sales. As the province slowly opens, you may be thinking about new ways of conducting business to adapt to the current situation. You may be in the process of setting up an e-commerce site and increasing your social media engagement. You may need courses to help you with graphic design, web design, content management, and online marketing strategies. You may want to get better at using Photoshop, InDesign, WordPress, Wix, Shopify, Facebook, and YouTube to boost your online presence. You can learn all of these skills on LinkedIn Learning, one of our most popular online course databases. We also have live Zoom business webinars facilitated by local experts; make sure you check back often on our website as we are constantly adding new topics. All you need is just a library card to access these courses.

Resources for students

If you are a high school or university student looking for additional resources to help you better understand your professional path or homework and research projects, make sure you check out our Business Source Elite that has full-text coverage of the world’s top business, management and economics journals, including well-known publications such as Harvard Business Review series, McKinsey Quarterly, and Ivey Business Journal.

Career and professional skill improvement

If you are working from home, you may need help with certain technologies such as Microsoft Team, Skype for Business, QuickBooks cloud, Zoom, Webex, and more. You may also look for tips and advice on productivity management and time management. Again, these topic areas are also covered by LinkedIn Learning. If you are currently unemployed and wanting to improve your skills and get prepared for your next dream job, make sure you spend time exploring our LinkedIn Learning or Gale Courses. You can also join our online Resume and Job Coaching sessions to receive individual support on:

Resume and cover letter improvement;
Interview preparation tips; and
Career related questions.

Financial help

The COVID 19 pandemic is hitting Canadians hard financially with many wondering how to juggle rent and bills. If you are concerned about your finances, you're not alone. We are here to provide you with the educational resources and tools to help you navigate through this difficult time. In addition to online courses such as LinkedIn Learning and Gale courses, we also offer live webinars with local experts. Here are some personal finance webinars we’ve hosted in the last two months: