Ottawa hires in two systems — federal competitions and private-sector speed. One real conversation surfaces the evidence that gets you screened in.
"Within two weeks of completing my package, I've landed two interviews. 5 Stars!"
Two certified writers — Tami writes across every career level, Adam works with executives and senior leaders only. The one you meet is the one who writes.
An ex-recruiter who read hundreds of applications a week and decided who got the call — now she writes for that six-second first read. Featured in Canadian Business.
Interviews lined up? Tami also offers 1-on-1 interview coaching →
The higher you climb, the harder it is to talk about yourself — Adam turns 25-year careers into a story a board can act on. Before resumes, he put CEOs in front of the FT, BBC and Bloomberg — now 3,000+ executives later, he takes eight private clients a month.
Every service says "1-on-1" and "ATS-optimized." Here's what they can't say.
Elsewhere you pay $300–$650 before anyone tells you their name. Here the free chat comes first: an honest read of your current resume, straight answers, and if we're not the right fit you'll know in 20 minutes without spending a dollar.
"Tami has been an absolute game-changer — her genuine commitment to helping me succeed was exceptional."
The industry norm is a nameless writer assigned post-purchase. Ours is the opposite: two named writers — Tami Cooper, CRS, an ex-recruiter, and Adam Winfield, CMRW/CERM — with credentials you can verify before your first call, and no substitution after it.
"Adam easily understood my career objectives and translated them into a strong, sharp, results-oriented resume."
Volume services run six figures of clients through a portal. Here, one deep conversation and a hand-crafted file — Tami keeps her weekly caseload small, and Adam caps at eight clients a month so nothing ships rushed.
Written by a human, engineered for the machines: keywords, structure and quantified results built to clear both ATS filters and the AI screening now common in Ottawa hiring.
Twenty years of coaching sit underneath this service, and it shows: the conversation that builds your resume also sharpens how you talk about your work — in an interview or before a selection board. Want practice? The same ex-recruiter coaches interviews too.
And after delivery your writer stays reachable — a sounding board for the next competition, the next negotiation, the next move.
"It's one thing to know what you're bringing to the table — it's a whole other thing to communicate that value to the employer."
A free 20-minute chat — meet your writer and get honest feedback on your current resume.
Book a Free ChatNot industry name-dropping — the judgment calls that change outcomes here.
A federal screening board isn't skimming for vibes — it's matching your words against essential qualifications, line by line. We write evidence-first: the situation, what you did, what it produced. Adjectives get you screened out; demonstrated experience gets you in the pool.
The same career needs two different tellings here. Tech and private-sector Ottawa wants product, speed and impact up top; a government hiring board wants mandate, scope and stakeholders. We frame your record for the door you're actually knocking on — and reframe it when you switch.
In this market a language profile can decide a competition. If you work in both official languages, we make it impossible to miss — profile stated plainly, bilingual delivery woven into your achievements instead of buried in a skills line at the bottom.
The shift every line of your resume goes through — duties out, evidence in.
Composite examples — real client details stay confidential.
New graduates and early-career professionals building a first resume that opens doors.
Mid-career professionals targeting manager and senior individual-contributor roles.
Established professionals targeting senior manager, director and senior technical roles.
VP, SVP and C-suite candidates — private, board-level positioning with Adam.
Real 5-star resume-writing reviews from clients across Canada — read more stories.
“My experience with Careers by Design was enjoyable!”
Adam is extremely skilled and efficient. He was able to easily understand my career objectives and translate it into a strong, sharp, results oriented resume. I also took advantage of the new executive one pager service…
Toronto, ON“I had the opportunity to work with Tami during an important period of career transition.”
What I appreciated most was that the process went beyond simply updating a resume…
Toronto, ON
“I really enjoyed working with Tami.”
Her work was great quality and her time frame was very speedy. She is very personable and patient. The level of service was top notch 10/10! I highly recommend working with someone so professional like Tami.
Toronto, ON“I strongly recommend Career's by design for those looking to update and upgrade their resume and cover letter.”
It was a pleasure working with Adam Winfield. He was extremely professional and did an amazing job writing a concise resume that highlighted my achievements…
Toronto, ON“Amazing company for Resume and career counseling!”
Was an amazing experience from start to finish, great prices and friendly people. Thank you!
Toronto, ON
“It's one thing to *know* what you're bringing to the table when applying to your dream job, but it's a whole other…”
Enter Tami Cooper at Careers by Design: Whether you're just starting out in your career, an internationally-trained professional, or a seasoned executive ready for the C-suite, Tami brings decades of experience and an intimate, up-to-the minute understanding of the job market…
Toronto, ONReady to get results like these?
A free 20-minute chat — honest feedback on your resume, no obligation.
Book a free resume chat Read all 300+ five-star reviews →Quick call with your writer — upload your resume for a free, honest review.
A single real conversation — your wins, your targets, your story.
Standard resumes within 3 business days (senior-leadership work up to 10), with 30 days of edits included.
Interviews coming in already? Pair your resume with interview coaching with Tami to close the deal.
Book with your writer — upload your resume for a free review. No obligation.
You'll pick your exact time on the next screen and get an instant confirmation email once you book.
All consultations online or by phone — no commute, no waiting room.
Based outside Ottawa? The same writers serve professionals coast to coast.