
Clients routinely express that their coaching experience with Careers by Design was not only career-changing but life-changing. Testimonials often mention increased clarity, renewed self-belief, and successful transitions into roles that bring both purpose and prosperity. Looking for expert career coaching in Vancouver? At Careers by Design, we specialize in personalized 1-on-1 coaching to help you discover your career fit, build confidence, and land the job that truly matches your goals. Whether you're starting your professional journey or navigating a major career transition, our highly experienced team offers customized support to guide you every step of the way. Rated 4.8 stars on Google and voted Best Career Coach Vancouver we provide services like job search coaching, interview preparation, resume writing, and strategic career counselling in Vancouver. Our proven “Connect Head & Heart” approach helps you align your personal values with career goals, so you can truly love your work—and your life. We work with professionals across all industries, from new graduates to executives, helping them identify strengths, gain clarity, and achieve lasting career satisfaction. Get matched with an ICF-certified career coach Vancouver residents trust and start moving forward—faster.. Many describe how they arrived feeling stuck and overwhelmed, only to walk away with tools, insights, and a roadmap that they continue to use years after the coaching has ended. The depth of transformation clients undergo is a testament to the comprehensive and compassionate design of the service.
Clients are encouraged to start their journey by booking a free consultation, where they can ask questions, learn about coaching options, and be matched with a coach who suits their specific needs and goals. The Careers by Design team is committed to creating more "Happy Mondays" for working professionals by helping them discover careers that energize and fulfill them.
The founder, Shirin Khamisa, has instilled a human-centered vision into every aspect of the business. Her belief that work should nourish the soul, not deplete it, shapes the coaching process from beginning to end. She and her team are committed to helping clients experience meaningful transformation, not just transactional progress. This philosophy is reflected in the level of care and attention given to each client's story. Whether someone is stepping into the workforce for the first time, recovering from a layoff, facing burnout, or exploring an entirely new industry, Careers by Design offers a supportive, empowering, and practical path forward-one that enables clients to reclaim their agency, reignite their passion, and step confidently into the next chapter of their lives.
The firm has earned numerous accolades, including “Best Career Coach Vancouver” and “Best Career Coach Canada,” along with a high customer satisfaction rating reflected in over 300 five-star Google reviews. They serve the entire Vancouver area and have been a trusted resource for over two decades.
Rated 5 Stars on Google – Careers by Design has exceptional client satisfaction and is highly rated online.
Expert Career Coaching in Vancouver – They specialize in personalized 1-on-1 coaching to help clients find the right career path.
Free Initial Consultation – Potential clients can book a free chat to explore services and ask questions.
Career Transition Support – Guidance is available for those making a change in their career direction.
Job Search Coaching – Coaches provide step-by-step support to overcome job search challenges
Resume Writing & Interview Coaching – Services include resume creation, cover letter development, and LinkedIn optimization, along with interview preparation.
Support Across All Career Stages – From new graduates to seasoned executives, the services are tailored for all professionals.
Award-Winning Services – Voted Best Career Coach in Vancouver and Canada; recipient of the 2024 Best of Canada Career Coach Awards.
Client Success Stories – Numerous testimonials show measurable outcomes like new job placements and increased confidence.
Connect Head & Heart Approach – A unique coaching model combining emotional intelligence and practical strategy to drive results.
Certified Career Coaches – The team includes ICF-certified professionals with 20–25+ years of experience.
Customized Career Plans – Each client receives a tailored plan based on their personal strengths, values, and aspirations.
Inclusive of All Industries – The service caters to professionals from healthcare, tech, education, business, and more.
Video Interviews with Coaches – Potential clients can get to know the coaches via video to build trust and transparency.
Emphasis on Mental Wellbeing – Tools like HeartMath are used to reduce stress and enhance focus during job searches.
Proven Results Over 20 Years – Over two decades of helping professionals in Vancouver succeed in meaningful careers.
Highly Rated Testimonials – Success stories from professionals in various roles including urban policy, quality direction, design, coaching, and operations.
Practical Tools & Strategies – The coaching programs are results-focused, offering actionable steps and resources.
Downloadable Career Guide – A free guide titled “5 Steps to More Happy Mondays” is available to help people start transforming their careers.
Holistic & Research-Based Approach – Combines psychology, assessments like MBTI, and modern counselling methods for effective career development.
The practical components of the coaching include detailed support for resume development, often grounded in modern, ATS-friendly formats that highlight achievements over duties and emphasize unique value propositions. Coaches help clients craft compelling narratives that position them effectively in the job market, often by reframing gaps in employment or career pivots as strengths rather than liabilities. LinkedIn profiles are reviewed and optimized not just for SEO, but to reflect a cohesive personal brand that aligns with the client's values and career goals. Clients are also coached on how to build authentic professional networks, identify hidden job markets, and communicate with confidence in both informational interviews and formal hiring processes.
In addition to coaching, Careers by Design offers insightful resources, including a free downloadable guide titled “5 Steps to More Happy Mondays,” and a comprehensive overview of industry terms and career development concepts. Their educational resources empower clients to better understand the evolving job market and make informed decisions.

The coaching team itself is a diverse group of professionals with deep experience in human resources, corporate leadership, psychology, and education. Many hold advanced degrees, industry certifications, and coaching credentials from ICF-accredited programs. This multidisciplinary perspective allows Careers by Design to support clients across all sectors, including technology, healthcare, finance, education, creative industries, and nonprofit leadership. Each coach is selected based on fit with the client's needs and personality, ensuring a strong, trust-based relationship. Coaches receive ongoing training to stay updated with market trends, hiring practices, and coaching science, so clients receive both empathetic support and cutting-edge career strategies.
Once the coaching relationship is formalized, clients embark on a tailored journey that may involve 1-on-1 virtual coaching sessions, self-assessment exercises, emotional intelligence tools, and guided reflection. The sessions are highly structured but flexible in content, allowing coaches to respond to the client's evolving needs. For instance, a client who initially seeks help navigating a career change might later discover that their deeper need lies in healing from a toxic workplace experience, regaining self-worth, and learning to advocate for themselves. In such cases, coaches are trained to hold space for emotional healing while maintaining momentum toward professional advancement. This blend of emotional safety and strategic focus is a hallmark of Careers by Design's approach.
In addition to emotional coaching, Careers by Design provides detailed and actionable support for every aspect of career marketing. Clients work closely with their coach to craft powerful resumes that are results-driven, customized for specific roles, and formatted to pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Rather than simply listing job duties, resumes are reframed to highlight achievements, leadership skills, and the unique value proposition the client brings to potential employers. LinkedIn optimization is another key area of focus, ensuring that clients' online profiles are not only keyword-rich for searchability but also authentic representations of their professional brand. Clients are taught how to use LinkedIn proactively to build meaningful professional networks, engage with industry communities, and uncover hidden job opportunities through warm referrals and informational interviews.
Clients frequently praise the program's ability to help them regain control of their career narrative. They speak to improvements in confidence, clarity, and the ability to pursue roles aligned with their skills and values. Many report landing fulfilling jobs within weeks of completing the program. Through a balance of empathy, structure, and evidence-based coaching, Careers by Design empowers individuals not just to find work, but to create careers that are meaningful, resilient, and personally rewarding. With over 20 years of success and hundreds of five-star reviews, Careers by Design remains a trusted and results-oriented partner for professionals across Vancouver seeking more purpose and satisfaction in their careers.

Careers by Design delivers a deeply personalized and emotionally intelligent approach to career coaching in Vancouver, offering a distinctive blend of strategic planning and inner development that sets it apart from more conventional career services. At the heart of their coaching philosophy is the belief that every individual has the potential to build a meaningful and fulfilling career, but that this requires more than just surface-level tools like resumes or interview tips-it demands a deeper understanding of personal values, goals, and emotional well-being. Their program is built around helping clients not only define what success means to them but also develop the confidence and clarity to pursue it, even amid uncertainty or significant career upheaval.
Rather than focusing narrowly on job titles or salary ranges, Careers by Design emphasizes a client's deeper motivations-such as a desire for creativity, autonomy, stability, or social impact-and helps align those with real-world opportunities. The coaches work closely with clients to identify what drives their fulfillment, often using structured self-reflection exercises, values clarification, and lifestyle analysis to create a professional roadmap that's as emotionally satisfying as it is practical. Once this clarity is established, the coaching shifts into action mode, where clients are supported in networking, applying to jobs, preparing for interviews, and negotiating offers, all with continuous support and feedback.
Careers by Design's career coaching services in Vancouver offer a comprehensive and highly personalized experience for individuals seeking meaningful change in their professional lives. Whether a client is looking to pivot into a new industry, advance within their current organization, or rediscover their passion after a career setback, the coaching process is thoughtfully designed to address both the practical and emotional dimensions of career development. The journey typically begins with a complimentary consultation call, where the client has the opportunity to share their career story, current challenges, and future aspirations. During this initial meeting, the coach listens attentively, asks insightful questions, and helps the client uncover not just their immediate needs, but the underlying patterns or barriers that may be holding them back, such as fear of failure, lack of confidence, emotional exhaustion, or misalignment between their career path and personal values.
This transformative experience is rooted in founder Shirin Khamisa's belief that meaningful work is a cornerstone of a fulfilling life. Her vision shapes every aspect of the business-from the careful hiring of coaches to the design of client programs-and it is grounded in the idea that career change must be approached as both a strategic process and a healing journey. Clients are not treated as broken or in need of fixing; instead, they are empowered to reclaim their confidence, trust their intuition, and align their external goals with their internal truth. Through Careers by Design, people learn how to navigate their professional lives with more purpose, clarity, and joy.
They offer flexible programs, from single sessions to full career transformation packages, tailored to various needs and budgets.
Yes. Careers by Design uses scientifically-backed tools to help clients manage stress, build emotional resilience, and boost well-being.
It typically starts with an assessment, goal setting, and guided coaching sessions. The process is holistic, supportive, and results-driven.