As clients move further into the coaching process, many begin to experience an internal shift that reshapes how they view themselves in relation to their work and the world around them. This shift often begins subtly-perhaps in the way they show up to meetings with more presence, or in the way they ask questions that previously felt too risky. Over time, this new way of being becomes more deeply embedded, influencing their behavior, choices, and self-perception. They begin to carry themselves differently, not because they've been told to, but because they've become reacquainted with their own value.
In our approach, we integrate practical strategy with emotional intelligence. Hi, I’m Shirin – thank you for visiting our Team page! Are you ready to take the next step in your professional journey? Careers by Design offers personalized 1-on-1 coaching that empowers professionals to find clarity, confidence, and direction in their careers. Whether you're stuck in a job that no longer fulfills you, planning a career switch, or simply want to achieve more in your current role, our Career Coach Toronto team is here to help. With a 4.8-star Google rating and recognition as the Best Career Coach in Toronto 2024, Careers by Design has earned a reputation for delivering real, lasting results. Our expert coaches work with you to define clear goals, uncover your strengths, and craft a strategy that aligns with both your head and heart. From recent graduates to executives, thousands have transformed their careers through our innovative coaching programs. We offer support in all areas of career development—from resume writing and interview preparation to career transitions and leadership growth. Clients like Andre Darmanin and Heather Nicholas have praised our services for helping them achieve meaningful progress in just weeks. With flexible virtual sessions, psychometric assessments, and a proven method grounded in HeartMath tools, you’ll gain actionable insights that fast-track your success.. Here, you’ll discover more about the incredible individuals who make up our coaching, resume writing, and management teams. Each of our career counsellors is extensively trained in our unique Connect Head & Heart approach, a method we developed to guide clients through meaningful and lasting career transformations. Before joining Careers by Design, every coach completes a thorough selection and certification process. Together, our team brings decades of combined experience in career and leadership coaching, with proven success across industries in both Canada and the U.S. Our certified coaches have worked with individuals at all stages of their professional journeys and have helped clients achieve clarity, confidence, and success. Careers by Design has been proudly featured in major media outlets including CBC, CTV, Global News, The Globe & Mail, and The National. We invite you to explore each bio and get to know the warm, skilled professionals behind the success of our clients. Whether you’re seeking coaching or personal branding support, we’re here to help.. For example, if you're navigating a difficult boss, we'll look at both the external dynamics of the relationship and your internal response patterns. If you're trying to decide between two job offers, we won't just analyze the salary and benefits-we'll explore how each role aligns with your energy, values, and long-term vision. This integration helps clients make decisions that are not only logical but also deeply aligned with their inner compass.
One of the unique aspects of this kind of coaching is its non-directive nature. The coach is not there to give advice or prescribe a path. Instead, the coach becomes a mirror, a thought partner, and a guide-offering observations, posing challenging questions, and gently pushing the client to see beyond their current perspective. This kind of support encourages sustainable growth, because the solutions emerge from the client's own insight, rather than from external instruction. As a result, clients often report feeling not only more successful, but more deeply fulfilled, because their growth has come from within.
The firm supports professionals through all stages of their career journey. For those unsure about their career direction, the coaches provide comprehensive career path planning services to help define clear goals and discover roles aligned with personal values and strengths. For clients facing a career transition, the coaches offer strategic advice and emotional support to make the shift as smooth as possible. Job seekers receive help with crafting compelling resumes through skilled Toronto resume writers, mastering interview techniques with mock interview sessions, and gaining insights into effective networking and the latest hiring trends.
Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google for career coaching services in Toronto.
Personalized 1-on-1 career coaching tailored to help you find the right job and career fit.
Free chat consultations available to help you get started on your career transformation.
Career coaching for professionals at all levels, including executives, business leaders, and entrepreneurs.
Toronto-based career coaching service specializing in job search, resume writing, interview preparation, and career transition.
Career services designed to boost confidence and help clients realize their potential.
Proven success: Many clients have landed new jobs in as little as 4 weeks.
Award-winning services, recognized as the Best Career Coach in Canada and Toronto in 2024.
Career transition coaching for those looking to switch roles or industries.
Job search support includes crafting standout resumes, mastering interviews, and networking strategies.
Over 20 years of experience helping professionals achieve career success in the Greater Toronto Area.
The Connect Head & Heart approach integrates emotional intelligence with career coaching for greater success.
ICF-certified career coaches with extensive training and experience in various sectors.
HeartMath tools help clients manage negative thinking and focus on positive outcomes.
Comprehensive coaching programs for clients at different career stages, from new graduates to senior executives.
Specialized support for leadership development, entrepreneurship, and mid-career transitions.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) coaching for BIPOC professionals and inclusive leadership.
Psychometric assessments and licensed feedback to aid in career decision-making.
Career coaching designed to fit into busy schedules, offering virtual sessions via Zoom and phone.
Client testimonials showcase real success stories from professionals across various industries who have achieved their career goals.
Toronto, Ontario’s capital and Canada’s largest city, is an international hub of business, culture, and diversity, boasting a population of over 2.7 million people. As a key player in the Golden Horseshoe region, it remains a global leader in multiple sectors.
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Toronto, with a history spanning over 10,000 years, is a bustling cultural and economic hub. From Indigenous roots to a global city, it remains a center of innovation, diversity, and growth.
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Toronto's name, derived from the Mohawk word tkaronto, traces back to its Indigenous heritage and early French and English spellings, reflecting its historical and cultural significance.
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Toronto's history spans thousands of years, from early Indigenous settlements and French trading posts to its role as a key city during British colonization, the War of 1812, and its rise as the capital of Ontario.
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Throughout the 20th century, Toronto overcame disasters such as the Great Fire of 1904 and Hurricane Hazel while witnessing rapid growth and transformation into Canada's largest city.
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Toronto's geography is marked by its flat landscape, deep ravines, escarpments, and dramatic waterfront changes. The city spans over 630 square kilometers and features a rich history of geographical transformations, from the Toronto Islands to the artificial waterfront extensions.
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Toronto's architecture reflects a dynamic mix of historic charm and modern innovation. From its iconic CN Tower to newly constructed landmarks by world-renowned architects, the city's skyline is ever-evolving.
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Toronto’s population continues to grow and diversify, with notable increases in immigration and visible minority groups, reflecting the city’s global appeal and multicultural fabric.
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What sets us apart is our dedication to individualized care and sustainable results. We don't offer generic solutions. Instead, we provide thoughtful, structured guidance that reflects your aspirations and helps you move forward with purpose. From resume development and interview coaching to leadership development and emotional intelligence training, every aspect of our program is crafted to bring out your best.
Transformation in a career context often requires letting go of long-held beliefs about success, stability, and self-worth. Many clients come into the coaching process with deeply internalized narratives-stories they've been told or have told themselves about what they can and cannot do. These stories may stem from cultural norms, family expectations, educational experiences, or years spent in environments that didn't foster growth. One of the most powerful aspects of coaching is uncovering these narratives, questioning their validity, and replacing them with perspectives that reflect your actual strengths, desires, and potential.
As you move through the coaching journey, you begin to develop a new language for talking about yourself and your career. You learn how to tell your story with confidence, how to identify your unique value proposition, and how to communicate it effectively in interviews, performance reviews, and professional conversations. You become more than just reactive-you become proactive, capable of articulating what you want and taking bold steps toward it. This confidence often spills over into other areas of life, creating ripple effects that go far beyond the professional realm.
This internal clarity also empowers clients to make strategic decisions with greater confidence. They learn to distinguish between fear-based hesitation and intuitive caution, allowing them to act decisively when opportunities arise. Instead of second-guessing themselves or over-relying on external validation, they begin to trust their judgment. This self-trust is often the missing piece that unlocks new levels of creativity and innovation. When clients no longer feel trapped by perfectionism or fear of failure, they take bolder steps toward what they truly want-whether that's starting a business, pursuing a promotion, changing industries, or scaling back in favor of more meaningful work.
As the coaching journey nears its end, a sense of integration begins to take root. Clients are no longer reliant on the coaching relationship to stay centered or take action. Instead, they have internalized the tools, insights, and practices that once felt novel. Reflection becomes a habit. Courage becomes a muscle. Alignment becomes a standard. Many clients choose to maintain periodic check-ins or engage in new coaching containers as their goals evolve, but the foundation remains solid. They have become their own best advocate, guide, and strategist.
Our team of experienced career coaches at Careers by Design has supported thousands of professionals across the Greater Toronto Area, helping them navigate their career journeys with clarity and confidence. Whether you're exploring new career options, facing uncertainty in your current role, or looking to take your career to the next level, our personalized one-on-one coaching programs are designed to meet you where you are. Every session is tailored to address your specific needs, goals, and aspirations, ensuring that you not only progress professionally but feel aligned and fulfilled in the process.
What truly sets our approach apart is the commitment to treating every client as a whole person-not just as a résumé or a job title. We understand that career choices are deeply intertwined with identity, values, relationships, lifestyle goals, and even cultural expectations. That's why we take the time to uncover not just what you do, but who you are, what you care about, and what kind of life you want to build. This holistic understanding shapes every conversation and recommendation, ensuring that your next career move doesn't just look good on paper but actually feels right in your day-to-day life.
The process also emphasizes the importance of embodiment. Change isn't just intellectual-it must be felt and practiced. A client learning to set boundaries, for example, might rehearse difficult conversations in coaching sessions, explore the sensations of discomfort in their body, and notice how old patterns of people-pleasing try to reassert themselves. By bringing awareness to these moments, clients can interrupt automatic responses and choose behaviors that better align with their goals and integrity. Over time, these new behaviors become part of who they are, not just what they do.
Our clients often express how transformative the experience is-not just in terms of their careers, but in how they relate to themselves. They leave with a stronger sense of self-worth, greater clarity around their personal and professional identity, and a renewed enthusiasm for their future. Many go on to make bold moves they had previously only dreamed about, whether it's launching a business, changing industries, or stepping into a leadership role that once felt out of reach.
Our commitment to quality is reflected in our awards and reviews. With over 300 five-star reviews on Google and accolades like the 2024 Best Career Coach in Toronto and Canada, we are proud of the trust and respect we've earned from the community. These recognitions are a testament to the positive impact we have made in the lives of our clients.
Shirin Khamisa is the founder and practice leader. She’s a career counselling expert and thought leader featured in outlets like CBC, CTV, and The Globe & Mail.
Careers by Design is a professional career coaching and resume writing service that helps individuals and organizations create fulfilling career paths through personalized, holistic support. They've been in business for over 20 years across Canada and the US.
They provide one-on-one career counselling, resume writing, job search support, interview coaching, leadership development, and emotional well-being support during career transitions.