Kitchener Waterloo's  Highest Rated Career Counselling & Career Coaching Service

Rated 5 out of 5 stars on Google

Love Your Work.
Love Your Life.
Advance Your Career Now.

We offer 1-on-1 career counselling to help you
find your career fit & land the right job.

Or call us 519-258-6368

 Trusted by:

How We Help You

Find The Right Career & Enjoy Your Work


Wondering what career is right for you & how to make it happen? 

Get personalized 1 on 1 career advising and career coaching.
Move forward, faster.

Land The Right Job


Struggling with your job search? 

1 on 1 job search coaching helps you every step of the way.
 

Interview Coaching & Resume Writing


Gain confidence & ace your interview with 1 on 1 interview coaching.

Our Resume Writers will work with you to create an impactful interview-winning resume, cover letter & LinkedIn profile.

Kitchener Waterloo - we are your leaders in 1-on-1 career advising, career path planning, outplacement services, resume writing & interview coaching.

We're here to help - we serve all industries & career stages: from starting out to mid-career, seasoned professionals & leaders.

Or call us 519-258-6368

Andre Darmanin - Careers by Design Testimonial
"Coaching at Careers by Design helped me achieve the confidence and self-worth I always had but never was able to realize before."

Andre Darmanin Urban Affairs & Policy Professional

"This service was a great help...and I landed a great new job within 4 weeks."

Heather Nicholas Clinical Risk & Quality Director

Easy, Convenient Support That Fits Your Busy Schedule

Book a free chat and get started on your career transformation today!

1

Connect With Us

Let us answer your questions and show you how we can get you results!

Or call us 519-258-6368

2

Experience The Impact of Coaching

Meet with your coach on Zoom for your first session and bring your goals and challenges. She will listen closely and work with you to create a step by step strategy. 

Continue working with us in one of our coaching programs & have an experienced coach guide you every step of the way. 

3

Start Loving Your Work & Enjoying Your Life

Our innovative Connect Head & Heart solution gets you there faster.

What We Do & Why It Works

For over 18 years we've helped professionals in Kitchener Waterloo to achieve success.

Do you want to?

  • Achieve your career goals faster?
  • Feel better & be more confident?

We use evidence-based strategies that work in the real world by helping you Connect Head & Heart.

Louise Jones Jankovic
"The HeartMath tools and coaching helped me block out negative thinking and focus on positive tools - I rate them a 10/10!"

Louse Jones Jankovic Communications Consultant

Expert Career Counselling & Coaching - In Person

Meet Our Life-Changing Career Counsellors

Highly experienced & qualified career coaches that excel at helping you become the best version of yourself!

Jeanet Lamoca Career Coach

Jeanet Lamoca B.A. PCC

Career & Life Coach

Jeanet is an intuitive systems thinker and master coach.  She has helped hundreds of professionals for over 20 years to overcome challenges and reach their career and life goals.

Pat Parisi Career Coach

Pat Parisi M.Ed.

CAREER & LIFE COACH

Pat is a proactive, resourceful & creative Career Coach for more than 20 years. She will help you achieve clarity & success with your career goals while remaining completely aligned with your own personal values and aspirations.

Linda Career Counsellor

Linda Faucheux M.A. LPC

CAREER & LIFE COACH

A career coach for more than 20 years, Linda focuses on your strengths, helps you clarify and develop your unique genius and helps you cultivate greater resilience when facing uncertainty and change as you move toward more meaningful work in the world.

A Career Guidance Service That's Practical & Effective

Join 1000s who have unlocked their potential with our career support – boosting confidence, motivation, and creating a clear path towards success.


Get matched with a coach who fits your needs

Our career counselling and coaching service will match you with a coach who has the expertise and experience to help you reach your full potential.

Let us help you take the next step towards your dream career.

1 on 1 support to get you to your dream job

We get it.  Job searching can be disheartening and downright tough.  You don't need to do this alone.

Let our expert coaches guide you through the job search process and give you the tools you need to succeed. 

Connect head & heart and tap into your strengths

We strongly believe that true career satisfaction comes from connecting your head and heart.

Our expert coaches will work with you to uncover your unique strengths and passions, and help you align them with your career goals.

With our guidance, you can tap into your full potential and achieve success on your own terms. 

Changing Lives - One Career At A Time

Don't just take our word for it – hear from our satisfied clients who have found career success through our counselling and coaching services. With over 18 years of experience and 300+ 5-star Google reviews, you can trust us to help you achieve your career goals and transform your life.

"My experience with Careers by Design was fantastic. Jeanet made me feel comfortable and really cared about me. She really listened to me.

Through the coaching program I gained more confidence in myself and my interview skills. I would definitely recommend Jeanet as a coach."

Carolina Rojas CPHR
Solutions Designer, Deloitte SAP

"I'm very satisfied with the work that Pat and I have done together over the past year.

I've made great strides and I've come a long way. I've found a foothold in the learning field and Pat helped me tremendously with the transition. That's really all I could ask for!"

Steve Birek B.A.
Director of Learning Content, Rumie

"It felt like finding a job was a monolithic task before the coaching began.

I really appreciated starting the process by looking at what was important to me and using the exercise as an opportunity to achieve congruence between what is important to me and my working life. And also, having someone support these choices was very valuable."

Mavis Fernandes M.A.
Trainer & Coach, Mavis Fernandes Assoc.

"Working with Careers by Design was a great experience. Their processes were explained thoroughly and I felt fully informed before I committed to a coaching program.

Their emphasis on a personalized and holistic approach with each client confirmed that this was the right place for me.

Pat’s calm, caring, and gentle probing during our sessions together gave me new ideas, a deeper awareness of who I am, and confidence in my choices. Thank you Pat, and Careers by Design for helping me move into the next phase of my career."

Melissa Price-Mitchell
Graphic Designer

"Linda was a great Career Coach and gave me the tools I needed to help me find a career path aligned with my qualifications and interests.

I had felt stuck for a few years in my career search and the coaching sessions highlighted my interests, helped with my resume, networking techniques and more guiding me to achieve a new position that I am excited to pursue!

You will have to put in the effort but Linda will give you the tools and guidance to be successful. Thanks Linda!"

Troy Cruz B.A.
Manager, Under the Sun Pub & Brewery

"Participating in The More Happy Mondays career coaching program at Careers by Design gave me the tools to feel more positive and handle this stressful situation better.

All this boosted my confidence so I could take the next steps to get out of a difficult situation. My coach helped me to explore my options and I decided on a new direction with confidence."

Rob Arnott
Chief Operating Officer, Paro Marketing

Quick Cheat-Sheet to Career Counselling

At Careers by Design, we believe that every individual has unique talents, interests, and aspirations that can be leveraged to achieve success and fulfillment in their chosen career. Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to make a change, we are here to help you explore your options and guide you towards your goals.

Our approach to career counselling is based on the latest research and theories in the field. We use a combination of assessments, coaching techniques, and counselling strategies to help individuals identify their strengths and weaknesses, explore career options, and develop a plan to achieve their goals.

Keep reading to learn more about key concepts and ideas in the area of career counselling.

Career Development

Career development is a continuous process that involves acquiring and improving the necessary skills, knowledge, and experiences to achieve personal and professional goals. This process includes career planning, which involves setting short-term and long-term career goals and identifying a career path that aligns with one’s interests and strengths.

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Career Coaching

Career coaching is a process of working with a coach to identify and achieve career-related goals. It is based on principles of coaching psychology, which emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals to take responsibility for their own personal and professional development.

Positive psychology is an essential component of career coaching, as it emphasizes the importance of building on individuals’ strengths and positive attributes, rather than focusing solely on their weaknesses or limitations. Person-centered therapy is also an important approach to career coaching, as it emphasizes the importance of creating a safe, non-judgmental space in which individuals can explore their thoughts and feelings related to their career goals.

Read More

Career Assessment

Career assessment is a critical component of career development, as it enables individuals to identify their strengths, interests, and values, and explore potential career paths that align with those characteristics. There are several types of career assessments available, each with its own unique approach and focus.

One commonly used career assessment is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), which assesses individuals’ personality types based on four dichotomies: extraversion vs. introversion, sensing vs. intuition, thinking vs. feeling, and judging vs. perceiving. Another popular assessment is True Colors, which categorizes individuals into four color-coded personality types based on their preferences for communication and problem-solving styles.

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Employment Counselling

Employment counseling is a critical aspect of career development, as it focuses specifically on helping individuals identify and pursue job opportunities that align with their skills, interests, and values. This can include providing support and guidance in areas such as resume writing, job searching, interview preparation, and negotiating job offers.

At Careers by Design, we offer comprehensive employment counseling services to help individuals navigate the complex job market and find meaningful work. Our employment counselors are trained to provide guidance and support in a range of areas, including job searching strategies, networking techniques, and developing effective resumes and cover letters.

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Where Does Careers by Design Operate?

No matter where you reside in North America or internationally, we can help you!  We offer a completely unique way of solving career challenges that no other company we're aware of does!

Frequently Asked Questions

Please also view our much more comprehensive FAQ on counselling.

What can I expect from career counselling and coaching?

Career counselling with us can help you gain clarity and confidence in your career journey. We'll provide you with personalized support, career path planning and career guidance to explore your career options, and create an action plan to reach your goals. Our coaches also specialize in resiliency building and stress management.

What's your approach?

We offer a holistic, heart-based approach to career counselling. It's unique in the marketplace so you won't find this approach anywhere else.  We'll provide you with the tools to identify your skills, interests, and values to help you find the right career path for you.

How long will the career counselling process take?

We’ll customize a plan that works for you. Generally, for a career change or transition, the career counselling and coaching process takes between 7-12 sessions .  If you're looking for job search coaching and you already know what target position you're aiming for, then 4-7 sessions is a good estimate.

What makes Careers by Design different?

We have over 18 years of experience in the field and have earned over 300 5-star reviews across the US and Canada. Our holistic and heart-based approach ensures that each client is treated with respect and given the personalized attention they need to reach their career goals.  Unlike a solo practitioner we have 1000s of cases to draw upon and the collective wisdom of our coaching team that you can leverage.

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Kitchener Waterloo Information

We serve clients across all areas of Kitchener Waterloo.  
Please note that all consultations are currently offered by phone and Zoom only.

We provide career counselling services in Kitchener Waterloo and the surrounding areas. Our service areas include:

Kitchener: Downtown, Victoria Hills, Alpine, Forest Heights
Waterloo: Uptown, Westmount, Beechwood, Laurelwood
Cambridge: Preston, Hespeler, Galt
Guelph: Old University, Exhibition Park, St. Patrick’s, Two Rivers

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kitchener waterloo city at night

Kitchener Waterloo - Area Information

Are you in the Kitchener Waterloo area and considering career counselling or career coaching? Or are you thinking about a move? 

Read through this important area information we've gathered that might inspire you or give you some career ideas.

Kitchener Waterloo Overview & Key Industries in the Region

The Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie Economic Region, anchored mostly by the tri-cities of Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge, is a vibrant area of Ontario that has a variety of industries and areas of economic growth. 

With a strong history in post-secondary education with prestigious institutions including University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Guelph, this region is also establishing a reputation for innovation from major high-tech industry leaders, while also remaining an important region for manufacturing, which accounts for approximately 20% of the region's employment. 

With an expected population of over 820, 000 by 2018, it is becoming a key educational, cultural and economic hub of Canada.

Key Industries in the Region:

As mentioned, manufacturing is a large player in the jobs market, accounting for roughly 20% of jobs in the area. 

Other key sectors include:

  • Retail Trade
  • Health care & social assistance
  • Educational services
  • Professional, scientific and technical services
  • Construction
  • Finance & insurance
  • Accomodation & Food Services
  • Wholesale Trade
  • Transportation & Warehousing
  • Administrative & Support, Waste Management
  • Public Administration

Economic Trends

Due to the area’s variety of industries, it has rebounded well from the recession, despite big-name company layoffs (Research In Motion aka Blackberry). 

The unemployment rate in the region varies--it was reported in 2015 as low as 3.7% in the Guelph region--and is on average 6.4%, much lower than the national unemployment rate.

The biggest job growth trends can be seen in the service sectors such as education, health, accommodation and food services industries, as well as in construction. 

With the development of the Waterloo Rapid Transit, the investment in infrastructure will increase not only jobs in transit construction but also private sector and housing construction along developed routes.

The region has invested a great deal into start up businesses, and it's paid off: there has been substantial growth in high tech sector, which attracts people from a variety of industries, to not only design new tech, but to also manufacture their designs as well. 

There are research commercialization hubs (such as the Accelerator Centre and Communitech Hub) that attract companies and talents from all over the world, which has led to over 1,000 technology firms existing in the area, including some of Canada's largest software, hardware, e-learning and satellite companies.

(Source: Waterloo Region Official Website)

Fun Facts about Kitchener Waterloo

  • In 2011, a study by the University of Waterloo found that there were 196 green businesses in the region that generated approximately $1.04 billion in sales., employing over 3000 people in the area
  • This region is posed to become “Silicon Valley North,” with growth in the high tech sector, fueled by the post-secondary graduates, a low Canadian dollar, and its proximity to both the GTA and the US
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently toured the KW region and stated that the region is "at the cutting edge of the global economy"

Top 20 Places to Work in Kitchener Waterloo

There are many industry leaders such as Toyota, Rimowa, COM DEV, Christie Digital, OpenText, Desire2Learn, Google, Manulife, SunLife, Loblaws, Blackberry and Home Hardware within the region. 

According to Canada’s Top 100 Employers, here is a list of the top employers in the area:

The Centre for International Governance Innovation
COM DEV International Ltd.
Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc.
D2L
Economical Mutual Insurance Company
Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada, The
Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan Inc.
Gore Mutual Insurance Company
OCAS Application Services Inc.
Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan / Regime d'assurance des enseignantes et des enseignants de l'Ontario (OTIP / RAEO)
OpenText Corporation
Royal Canin Canada Company
St. Mary's General Hospital
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. / TMMC
WalterFedy

The most in-demand jobs from a 2014 study by Canadian business include: professional services (that’s everything from an architect to a lawyer), agriculture/manufacturing, insurance, healthcare and telecommunications, media and technology. Check out the whole list here.