Boutique Outplacement & Career Transition Services — Canada-Wide

Real coaches. Personalized programs. Proven results.

Your employees deserve more than a generic portal.

When someone loses their job, they don’t need a login to a self-serve platform. They need a real human who knows their name, understands their fear, and has a plan.

Get a Fast Quote in 24 hrs

Named senior coaches 100% customizable programs HeartMath resilience tools Virtual or in-person Quote in 24 hours

“We empower career transitions with a science-backed approach that builds resilience and confidence.”

Shirin Khamisa · Founder & Practice Leader

20+Years Experience

4.9★Google Rating

300+5-Star Reviews

1,000sClients Coached

Boutique, not a faceless corporationYour employees work with our team, not random freelancers

Head & Heart approachCareer strategy + emotional resilience in every session

Science-backed, not genericHeartMath + neuroscience tools no other firm offers

Meet the team your employees will work with

Named Coaches, Not Anonymous Platforms

Every employee is matched with a senior coach from our team. No call centres, no AI chatbots, no anonymous freelancers — just experienced professionals who care.

Shirin Khamisa

Founder & Practice Leader

B.A., B.Ed. · ICF Certified · HeartMath Practitioner · 20+ years leading career transitions across Canada.

Tami Cooper

Coach & Resume Strategist

Certified Resume Strategist · Former Fortune 500 recruiter · Interview coaching specialist.

Adam Winfield

Executive Resume Writer

Certified Master Resume Writer · Executive branding specialist · LinkedIn optimization expert.

Jen Davies

Registered Psychotherapist

RP, CCC · CCPA President · Insurance-covered therapy for deeper emotional support during transitions.

Linda Faucheux

Career Coach

LPC · Licensed Professional Counselor · Career transition and leadership coaching specialist.

Learn More About Our Team →

Our unique approach

Connect Head & Heart

Most outplacement firms offer generic career counseling and resume templates. We combine practical career strategy with science-backed emotional resilience training — because landing a great role requires both a sharp resume and a regulated nervous system.

Career Strategy (Head)

Resume optimization, interview coaching, job search strategy, networking, and personal branding — the practical toolkit for landing the right role.

Emotional Resilience (Heart)

HeartMath Inner Balance technology, neuroscience-based emotional regulation, self-compassion coaching, and stress management — so employees thrive, not just survive.

One Coach, Both Disciplines

Unlike firms that silo career coaching and wellness support, your employee works with one coach who blends both — a holistic, integrated experience.

Feel Better. Do Better.

Get What They Want, Faster.

HeartMath Science

Inner Balance biofeedback for real-time resilience training

Neuroscience Tools

Emotional regulation and cognitive performance

Career Strategy

Resume, interview, job search, networking

Self-Compassion

Navigate change with kindness, not self-criticism

What we offer

Traditional Outplacement Services

“We empower successful career transitions with a comprehensive, science-backed & personalized approach that builds resilience and confidence.” — Shirin

Career Assessment & Planning

Tailored assessments and exercises to identify employee strengths, interests, and career goals, creating a personalized roadmap for a successful transition, with options for upskilling and reskilling to adapt to new industry demands.

Resume & LinkedIn Optimization

Professional resume and LinkedIn profile development by expert strategists, ensuring employees stand out to recruiters and hiring managers in competitive markets.

Interview Preparation & Practice

One-on-one coaching to prepare for interviews, focusing on confidence-building and nervous system regulation to help employees perform at their best in high-stakes situations.

Job Search Strategy Development

Customized strategies to navigate the job market, including identifying opportunities, leveraging job boards, and creating actionable plans for faster job placement.

Networking & Personal Branding

Guidance on building professional networks and crafting a personal brand that highlights employees’ unique skills, enhancing their visibility and connections in their industry.

Stress Management & Emotional Support

Support to manage the emotional challenges of career transitions, using proven techniques to reduce stress, process emotions, and maintain well-being during change.

Plus our exclusive services

Services You Won’t Get Anywhere Else

“Standard outplacement tools aren’t enough in today’s world — employees need deeper support to build resilience and navigate the stress and uncertainty they face.” — Shirin

Exclusive

HeartMath Resilience Training with Inner Balance Technology

Science-backed HeartMath tools, including Inner Balance technology, to build resilience, regulate nervous system states, and improve clarity and decision-making during transitions.

Exclusive

AI-Integrated Career Transition Support

Optional AI tools to enhance job search strategies and market research, addressing modern challenges like AI-driven workplace changes, while prioritizing personalized coaching.

Exclusive

Specialized Transition Programs

Targeted coaching for unique transitions, including retirement, entrepreneurship, or consulting roles, providing employees with the skills and confidence to pursue new career paths.

Exclusive

Neuroscience-Informed Transition Research

A proactive approach using neuroscience research and global trend analysis to tailor transition strategies, ensuring employees are equipped to handle modern challenges like AI-driven uncertainty.

Exclusive

Self-Compassion & Emotional Awareness Coaching

A dedicated program to foster self-compassion, helping employees navigate the emotional aspects of change with kindness, reducing self-criticism, and enabling forward momentum.

Exclusive

Flexible Program Options with Technology

Customizable support with optional technology-driven tools, such as real-time heart coherence feedback, ensuring employees receive a tailored experience that suits their preferences.

Exclusive

Neuroscience-Based Emotional Regulation Training

Specialized training that leverages neuroscience and HeartMath techniques to teach employees how to regulate emotions, reduce fear, and improve cognitive function during career transitions.

Exclusive

Holistic Coaching with Dual Expertise

A unique approach where employees work with one coach blending career guidance and HeartMath techniques, providing comprehensive support for practical job search needs and emotional resilience.

Get a quote

Get a Fast Quote — Answer a Few Quick Questions

Fill out our 2-minute form and we’ll email you a detailed, customized quote within 24 hours.

Why choose us

What Makes Us the Top Choice for Outplacement in Canada?

Friendly, Affordable & 100% Customizable

With the highest Google review rankings for career coaching across Canada, we’re focused on customer service. All coaching is 100% customized to the needs of your client.

1-on-1 Coaching with Canada’s Leaders

All coaching is confidential and highly personalized, either in-person or virtual through Zoom. We serve your exiting staff no matter where they’re located in Canada.

Highly Qualified Coaching Team

Our carefully chosen, fully qualified career coaches are a breath of fresh air in a largely unregulated industry. Each practitioner is hand-picked with hundreds of satisfied clients.

Evidence-Based Approach

Our resilience training is underpinned by HeartMath methodology, used by top-tier companies worldwide. All assessment tools have a proven track record.

Career Transition Services With a Twist

We tackle all areas in depth and with extreme efficiency. Resilience training is personalized and we focus on stress management and productivity as well as emotional support.

Save Money & Protect Your Brand

Our boutique agency helps save you money with a responsive, agile team — specialists without the overheads. Protect your brand while mitigating risk.

★★★★★

“The team was very professional, did their research, and provided a great service! I highly recommend working with Shirin and the team at Careers By Design.”

Audrey McNeill

Manager, Continuing Professional Development, Sonography Canada

Shirin Khamisa Founder Careers by Design

Shirin Khamisa, B.A., B.Ed.

Founder & Practice Leader

Service areas

Key Service Areas in Canada

Canada-wide support with contextual local focus. Click a city for dedicated guidance tailored to each market.

Greater Toronto Area

Vancouver & BC Region

Calgary

Ottawa & National Capital

Client success

Over 300+ Five-Star Google Reviews

The highest of any career services company in Canada.

★★★★★

“Careers by Design put me in touch with Jeanet, which is one of the best career moves I ever made. Jeanet’s mock interviews helped me master answering questions I previously wasn’t confident in.”

Brad Keenan

★★★★★

“Highly professional coaching team that sincerely cares about their clients’ success. Lee provided a well-structured approach to exploring my values, passions and skills.”

Maureen Shields

★★★★★

“Tami very quickly turned around a draft for review. The quality of her work, and the way she captured my experience, was outstanding.”

Andrew Mushore LLM

★★★★★

“This boosted my confidence! I highly recommend Careers by Design to anyone who wants to start feeling better now and have a career that really fits who they are.”

Rob Arnott

Happy clients

Trusted by Fortune 500 Companies Across US & Canada

Learn more

What Are Outplacement Services?

What are outplacement services?+

Redundancy is an inevitable part of doing business in today’s volatile economy. Outplacement services play a vital role in lessening the blow felt by both parties when it’s time to part company.

Outplacement agencies help laid-off employees better acquaint themselves with the job market. They can also assist anyone exiting make a smooth transition to a new career.

These career management services are generally paid for by the employer. Along with severance pay and the usual benefits, outplacement is an increasingly common component of modern severance packages.

Benefits to the employee+

There are many areas in which career transition services are useful for laid-off employees:

Give general career guidance
Enhance job search skills
Hone interview techniques
Help with resume writing
Assist with network development

Benefits to the employer+

Organizations can expect to experience:

A well-maintained brand and a reputation for caring
Better morale among existing employees
Reduction in workplace stress
Increased productivity
Minimized liability for compensation payments

With sessions lasting anywhere from a few months to a year or more, career transition services ensure everyone can make a smooth shift with the minimum of disruption.

Why choose Careers by Design for outplacement?+

Our core purpose is to help Connect Head & Heart. We want your employees to feel better, do better, and get what they want, faster.

Experience: Over 20 years in outplacement with a positive, holistic approach that brings enduring change
Highly qualified coaching team: Hand-picked, fully qualified career coaches with hundreds of satisfied clients
Career transition with a twist: Resilience training, stress management, and emotional support — all personalized
Evidence-based approach: HeartMath methodology used by top-tier companies worldwide
Protect your brand: Mitigate risk from lawsuits and maintain your reputation
Save money: Boutique agency with specialist expertise without bloated overheads

How do I get started?+

Getting started is simple:

Fill out our quick quote form (2 minutes) and receive a detailed, customized proposal within 24 hours
Book a free introductory chat with our team to discuss your organization’s specific needs

All coaching is 100% customizable, so we’ll tailor a program that fits your budget, timeline, and employee needs.

Download

Get Our Brochure

Download our outplacement services brochure for a complete overview.

Get Our PDF Brochure

Ready to support your team’s transition?

Get a detailed quote within 24 hours. Answer a few quick questions and we’ll send you a customized proposal.

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