The coaching team itself is a diverse group of professionals with deep experience in human resources, corporate leadership, psychology, and education. Hi, I’m Shirin – thank you for visiting our Team page! 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. 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 Coaching 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.. 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.. 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.
The company's founder, Shirin Khamisa, plays an active role in shaping the values and direction of the coaching practice. Her vision is grounded in the belief that work should not be a source of stress or compromise but rather a platform for self-expression, growth, and purpose. This philosophy permeates the coaching experience, creating a space where clients feel genuinely heard and supported-not judged or pushed into cookie-cutter career paths. Shirin and her team strive to empower clients to become the architects of their own careers, equipped with both the external tools and internal resilience needed to thrive.
In summary, Careers by Design offers far more than basic career advice-it provides a life-changing experience rooted in empathy, strategy, and self-discovery. Clients leave the program with a clear vision of where they want to go and a practical, step-by-step plan to get there. They gain not just career tools, but a renewed sense of self-belief, purpose, and direction. With its strong record of success, highly trained coaching team, and emotionally intelligent framework, Careers by Design stands as one of Vancouver's most trusted and transformative career coaching services.
Emotional resilience is a cornerstone of the coaching methodology. Careers by Design is one of the few coaching services in Canada that incorporates HeartMath technology into their programs, which uses heart-rate variability biofeedback to train clients in emotional self-regulation. These tools help clients learn how to calm their nervous systems, recover from stress quickly, and make clear, empowered decisions. This becomes especially useful in high-pressure scenarios like job interviews, public speaking, negotiating promotions, or dealing with workplace conflict. Clients learn to recognize their emotional triggers, use breathing techniques to regain composure, and shift from reactive to proactive responses. This emotional mastery often becomes a foundational skill that not only enhances career outcomes but improves relationships, health, and overall well-being.
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.
Careers by Design specializes in a variety of services including resume writing, interview coaching, LinkedIn profile optimization, and job search strategy. Their resume writers collaborate with clients to craft documents that stand out in today's competitive job market, while their interview coaching builds the confidence needed to present your best self in high-stakes conversations. This support is available to clients at all career stages-from new graduates to seasoned professionals and executives-across all industries, including business, healthcare, tech, education, and entrepreneurship.
Client success stories and feedback consistently highlight the profound transformations that take place through Careers by Design's programs. Many clients report landing roles that not only meet their financial and professional needs but bring them a renewed sense of purpose, belonging, and personal fulfillment. Clients often speak about how the coaching experience helped them see possibilities they had not previously considered, overcome fears that had long kept them stuck, and build the internal and external tools necessary for sustained career growth. Numerous five-star reviews, personal referrals, and return clients are a testament to the powerful, life-changing impact that Careers by Design delivers.
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.
In addition to individual coaching sessions, the program provides tools and templates for job search strategies, LinkedIn optimization, and modern resume formatting. These materials are constantly updated to reflect shifts in hiring practices and employer expectations. The coaches, all of whom bring extensive industry experience, are available for real-time advice on adapting strategies to specific job postings or professional fields. For example, a coach working with a tech-sector client may provide insights on how to structure a portfolio and tailor language for hiring managers in that space, while another coach may assist a healthcare professional in transitioning into a leadership role with an emphasis on team-building and empathy-driven management.
Once the coaching engagement formally begins, clients are supported through a blend of structured sessions and customized resources. The coaching program is not a one-size-fits-all service; rather, it is tailored to meet the unique goals, personality, and professional situation of each individual. Clients might work on clarifying their career vision through exercises that explore their strengths, passions, and core values, or they might receive targeted support in building a career transition plan, navigating organizational politics, or developing leadership skills. Each coaching session is guided by a clear agenda but remains flexible enough to adapt to the client's evolving needs, ensuring that every interaction provides both emotional support and strategic direction.
Once coaching sessions are underway, the client embarks on a structured yet adaptable journey of self-discovery, skill-building, and strategic action. Unlike generic career counseling, Careers by Design uses a holistic framework that integrates mindset coaching, emotional intelligence, and evidence-based techniques to create lasting, meaningful results. Each session is carefully customized to the individual's career stage, industry, and personal goals. For instance, a mid-level professional looking to transition into a completely different field may work on identifying transferable skills, understanding the target industry, and reframing their story for recruiters, while someone aiming for executive leadership might focus on refining their strategic vision, enhancing communication styles, and demonstrating high-level impact in stakeholder meetings. Coaches help clients set SMART goals, track their progress, and maintain accountability through consistent check-ins and feedback, fostering a sense of forward momentum and clarity.
At the heart of Careers by Design is the vision and leadership of founder Shirin Khamisa, whose belief in the importance of meaningful work permeates every client interaction, program design, and business decision. Shirin's philosophy emphasizes that career fulfillment is not just about securing a job but about creating a work life that is aligned with who a person truly is. This human-centered approach means that clients are never treated as just another case or resume; instead, they are seen, heard, and supported as whole individuals. The coaching process is a partnership in which clients are empowered to tap into their own wisdom, resilience, and creativity, while benefiting from the guidance, expertise, and encouragement of skilled professionals. Through this transformative process, Careers by Design helps individuals not only achieve their career goals but fundamentally redefine their relationship to work and success in a way that supports lasting well-being and personal growth.
One of the distinguishing features of Careers by Design is the caliber and diversity of its coaching team. Coaches come from backgrounds in psychology, business, human resources, and organizational leadership, and many hold certifications from top coaching programs and advanced degrees. This multidisciplinary expertise enables the coaching team to match clients with professionals who truly understand the industries, challenges, and opportunities relevant to their goals. Coaches regularly participate in professional development to stay current with best practices in career coaching, emotional intelligence training, and labor market trends, ensuring that clients benefit from the latest research and insights.
The coaching methodology focuses not only on practical aspects of job search and career development-such as resume writing, interview coaching, and LinkedIn profile optimization-but also integrates emotional intelligence and psychological tools to build inner resilience and confidence. This blend of head and heart is at the core of their unique framework, which aims to connect clients with both their external ambitions and internal motivations. Their approach incorporates evidence-based practices, including tools from HeartMath and positive psychology, to ensure clients are mentally and emotionally equipped to make informed and meaningful career decisions.
Clients consistently report positive outcomes, including increased confidence, renewed motivation, and tangible results like landing job offers within a few weeks. Testimonials highlight the transformational impact of the coaching, emphasizing the importance of being truly heard and supported during times of transition. Many describe the experience as life-changing, crediting their coaches for helping them discover not just a new job, but a renewed sense of purpose.
Yes. Careers by Design uses scientifically-backed tools to help clients manage stress, build emotional resilience, and boost well-being.
Clients report greater clarity, confidence, relief from stress, and success in finding meaningful work. Many experience faster progress and more fulfilling outcomes.
They provide executive branding, customized resumes, LinkedIn profile writing, and career story development tailored to your industry and role.