How do I start with Careers by Design?

How do I start with Careers by Design?

What support does Employment Coaching in Toronto offer for career advancement?

As they reflect on their coaching journey, clients often express a deep sense of gratitude for the transformation they've undergone. our Team page! Here, you'll discover in-depth bios and insights about the dedicated professionals who make up our coaching team. Meet the Team At Careers by Design, our coaches are chosen not only for their expertise but for their ability to connect both intellectually and emotionally. 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 counselling 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.. Each counsellor completes a rigorous selection process and specialized training in our signature Connect Head & Heart™ methodology before earning the title of Careers by Design Certified Coach.. They recognize that the changes they've made are not just surface-level adjustments but profound shifts in how they approach life, work, and relationships. The tools, insights, and strategies they've gained throughout the process become integral parts of who they are, helping them navigate future challenges with clarity, confidence, and resilience. This sense of empowerment and self-awareness marks the beginning of a new chapter, one where they are not only prepared to meet future goals but are actively shaping a life that reflects their true desires and aspirations.

Clients frequently report that the coaching experience helps them to clarify their non-negotiables. These might be values like autonomy, impact, balance, or continuous learning. By getting clear on these core drivers, they can design careers that are both fulfilling and sustainable. No longer do they feel the need to contort themselves to fit into roles or systems that do not honor who they are. Instead, they become architects of their own path-choosing environments, responsibilities, and relationships that support their growth rather than deplete it. This strategic alignment often leads to not only higher performance, but deeper satisfaction and emotional well-being.

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.

Our ICF-certified coaches bring decades of experience, specialized training, and deep empathy to their practice. With credentials from top institutions and a long track record of success, they are not only coaches but trusted advisors who partner with you to identify obstacles, unlock potential, and develop concrete action plans. You'll be matched with a coach who understands your background, industry, and personal goals, ensuring you get the support you need to succeed on your own terms.

Careers by Design We offer a supportive and professional coaching partnership designed to help you create a fulfilling career and a balanced life—with time for what truly matters to you. Whether you're considering a major career shift or a smaller, strategic change, our services guide you through a purposeful and well-planned transition. We also help you navigate a range of workplace challenges, including high stress, toxic environments, remote work dynamics, re-entering the workforce, leadership development, and more..

  • ​​​​Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google for top-tier career coaching in Toronto.
  • Experience personalized 1-on-1 career coaching designed to help you discover the ideal job and career path.
  • Start your journey with a free consultation chat—no pressure, just insight and support.
  • We support professionals at every stage, from emerging talent to executives, business leaders, and entrepreneurs.
  • Based in Toronto, our coaching services specialize in job search strategy, resume development, interview coaching, and career transitions.

  • 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.

Career Coach Toronto: Overcoming Career Stagnation

And so, the work continues-not as a one-time fix, but as an ongoing practice of becoming. The tools and insights gained through coaching remain long after the sessions end. Clients often report that they return to their notes, their journals, or their coaching metaphors years down the line when faced with a new decision or a fresh challenge. The impact of coaching, when it is done with depth, care, and intentionality, echoes far beyond the confines of a single goal. It becomes a catalyst for lifelong transformation.

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.

Do you offer outplacement services for organizations?

Career Coach Toronto: Overcoming Career Stagnation

Employment Coaching Toronto: Leveraging Strengths for Advancement

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.

In terms of their long-term vision, clients start to think beyond immediate career goals and begin to ask deeper questions about their legacy. They ponder what kind of impact they want to have on their industry, community, and the world. This shift in perspective often leads them to explore new projects, initiatives, or roles that align with their deeper sense of purpose. Whether it's mentoring others, creating innovative solutions, or contributing to causes they care about, clients begin to take actions that extend beyond their own immediate success, striving to leave a lasting, positive imprint on the world around them.

Career Coaching Toronto: Embracing Career Changes

In addition to one-on-one coaching, we provide access to a carefully curated library of tools and resources. These include guided worksheets, reflection exercises, goal-setting frameworks, and career development templates that extend the work done in sessions. Many of our clients appreciate having these tangible materials to refer to between sessions, as they serve as both reminders and motivators to keep going, even when the path gets uncertain.

In both their professional and personal lives, clients start to develop a more sustainable and balanced approach to success. No longer willing to sacrifice their health, relationships, or personal well-being for the sake of achievement, they become more adept at setting boundaries that protect their energy. They prioritize self-care, ensuring that they remain physically, emotionally, and mentally nourished. They understand that sustainable success comes not from grinding away endlessly, but from balancing ambition with self-compassion, drive with rest, and action with reflection. This holistic approach leads to not only greater success but also a deeper sense of fulfillment.

Career Coaching Toronto: Embracing Career Changes
How long does career coaching take to show results?

As they move through this journey, clients begin to experience a profound sense of alignment between their internal and external worlds. This alignment creates a harmony that allows them to act with more consistency and integrity in all areas of their life. Their decisions are no longer driven by external pressures, such as what others expect or societal norms, but are instead rooted in their own authentic desires and values. They become more capable of making choices that honor their long-term vision, regardless of the immediate discomfort they may bring. This ability to trust in themselves and their decisions fosters a deep sense of peace, even in the midst of uncertainty.

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.

Certified Life Coaches Supporting Career Goals

This work is not about fixing you-because you were never broken. It's about reconnecting you with the parts of yourself that may have been buried, overlooked, or undervalued. It's about rediscovering the confidence, clarity, and courage that are already within you and helping you harness them to create a career that feels like home. Every step of the way, we walk beside you-not with answers, but with the right questions, the right tools, and the belief that you are capable of far more than you've been led to believe.

At the core of their services is one-on-one, customized career coaching designed to uncover each individual's strengths, clarify their goals, and develop actionable strategies for professional advancement. Whether you're at the beginning of your career, considering a shift to a new industry, or striving for a leadership role, Careers by Design offers tailored coaching programs that empower you to love your work and lead a more fulfilling life. The firm's proprietary approach, “Connect Head & Heart,” integrates emotional and practical intelligence, encouraging clients to align their passions with their career objectives for a truly rewarding professional experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Their “Connect Head & Heart” methodology focuses on both emotional and logical aspects of career change. They take a truly holistic approach—integrating mind, body, and spirit.

Yes, every coaching program is 100% customized to your unique needs, challenges, strengths, and goals.