CAREER COUNSELLING &
CAREER COACHING IN OTTAWA 

Ottawa - we are your leaders in 1-on-1 career counselling, career coaching, outplacement services, resume writing & interview coaching.

  • Find your career fit & land the right job.
  • Get expert career advice from Canada's leaders in career services.
  • We've helped 1000s be happy at work. Now it's your turn.
Counselling client success story

"I felt a huge weight lifted.  It made me feel very optimistic about the future."

SARA PIERONI  //  Merchandising Manager  | Toronto, Canada

Meet Our Ottawa Coaches

Pat Parisi M.Ed.


Pat Parisi Career Counsellor Vancouver BC

Hi there,

I'm Pat and for over 20 years, I've supported 100s of people to thrive in their careers and live meaningful lives.

I help people to find deeper satisfaction and happiness in their career and life choices -- and live their dreams.

Linda Faucheux M.A. LPC


Linda Career Counsellor

Hi there...

I'm Linda Faucheux (pronounced 'fo-shay') and I've been coaching professionals like you to career success for over 25 years.

Feeling empowered in your career cultivates purpose, mastery, and autonomy; key components for a flourishing life.  

Let me help you build a strong professional direction that will energize you and bring out the best of who you are. 

How We Help You

You're always in control. All our counselling & outplacement services are 100% customized to your needs.
Here are some popular topics, but contact us if you need any other support!

Ottawa Career Counselling That Helps You Put All the Pieces of the Puzzle Together

Leverage our career planning & career advising expertise and build a strategy for success.  

Our comprehensive and holistic career counselling approach will help you generate options, evaluate your next steps & feel confident about your future.

We dig deep to uncover your blindspots. We help you master the inner game and coach you to success.

Master the Job Search
for 2020 in Ottawa and the surrounding area.

The Ottawa job search marketplace has completely changed over the last 10 years.  

Don't waste time on techniques that no longer work.

Work with a Counselor and learn how to uncover job opportunities in Ottawa and get coached to be a networking expert, no matter where your starting point.

Define Your Brand.  Win Interviews. Land the Right Job.

Our Ottawa Resume & Professional Branding Specialists can't wait to help you define and articulate what's unique about you. We follow a unique process that's personalized and accomplishments-focused.

We'll arm you with the right strategy and marketing materials (resume, cover letter, Personal Networking profile, LinkedIn profile) that will put your application at the top of the pile!

How It Works

1

Learn more about how we can help you.

3

Experience coaching at your first session, the "Turning Point" session.

4

Start your coaching program.

Career Coach Ottawa Rave Reviews

careers by design toronto reviews

We're immensely proud to be one of the highest rated career development companies in Canada on Google.
Read what our clients say about us.

Praise for Pat

Micheila Storr
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Micheila Storr

Head Editor & Writing Coach

"I genuinely enjoyed the process of working with Pat to clarify my goals and learn how to more effectively meet various challenges. We dug deep psychologically, much deeper than I had expected a career coach would go with me, and every step of the way I felt that Pat really got me. This was an exercise in bravery, compassion, and self-reflection in which I felt seen and supported. I recommend Pat as a career coach (or anything coach) without reservation!"

3 years ago

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Hamza Mhadi
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Hamza Mhadi

Research Assistant

"Before I signed up for Careers by Design, I was facing a lot of uncertainty and anxiety about my future. It was beginning to take a toll on my mental and physical health. Fortunately, I signed up for the 4 course program and was able to overcome these feelings. This is a great program for anyone who is going through a transition."

2 years ago

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Stina Dios
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Stina Dios

Artist

"I worked with Pat Parisi over Skype and she really tailored the experience to my needs. As a recent graduate, she helped me find an identity and options in a competitive job market. Thanks to her I have a fresh new outlook on my career and tools to help me focus on my goals. Thanks Pat!"

4 years ago

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Sorrell Scrutton
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Sorrell Scrutton

Photographer

"Pat, with Careers by Design, was immediately very easy to sit down with and talk to about things that felt very personal to me. The advice I received was life-changing to say the least! I would highly recommend Careers by Design."

6 years ago

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Quinlan Bruce
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Quinlan Bruce

Social Media Coordinator

"I was very hesitant and very skeptical coming into my coaching sessions with Careers By Design. Almost immediately, I was so impressed by how my coach, Pat, pivoted my perspective on choosing the right career path for me. We dissected my values, my professional/academic past and even practiced some stress relief techniques that are truly effective. After my 4 sessions I found a job that I'm really enjoying so far."

2 years ago

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Vanessa Cinesi
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Vanessa Cinesi

Sales Systems & Operations Lead

"What prompted me to choose Careers by Design was their holistic approach to coaching and the mind & heart integration framework they offer, which for me is critical to achieving sustainable and fulfilling results. I have had the pleasure to work with Pat Parisi on a career transition and she was instrumental in helping me gain more clarity around my strengths and values, which allowed me to define the type of work I wanted to pursue going forward. I felt a great connection with Pat! Our conversations were all online, with me being based in Vancouver-BC and her in Waterloo-ON, which worked extremely with my irregular schedule. With her bright, warm, empathetic and calm demeanour she was able to guide me back to realignment with my purpose when I started to wobble in my decision, and this has made all the difference! Pat has been that illuminating, steady light that you need access to when going through a period of transition, and for that I am forever thankful! I have recently accepted a job offer in a new industry that I am extremely excited about and I am truly grateful for Pat's support along the way. I would definitely recommend Pat and Careers by Design to anyone looking for meaningful career coaching, despite your location!"

a year ago

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Praise for Linda

Rebecca Rosenberg
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Rebecca Rosenberg

Senior Project Manager

"Working with Linda at Careers by Design helped me find direction in making a career change in a personally challenging and confusing time in my life. But most importantly, the coaching process helped me gain peace of mind with the process of leaving my job. I am taking steps toward my future, and laying the foundation based on my values as I look for my next role."

2 years ago

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Heather Wilson
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Heather Wilson

Senior Product Manager

"Highly recommend! Linda was an exceptional coach through a difficult time. Being in a transitional phase of my life, I was unsure how to invigorate my job search. She was consistently engaged, patient and encouraging as we explored my skills and interests. She offered wonderful advice throughout the process and recommended some essential next steps. Together we built an incredible strength statement which I can draw from and a solid strategy for my resume/cover letters/interviews that will be invaluable in the coming months. I can't say enough good things about her kind and insightful approach. Thank you!"

2 years ago

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Linda Sollars
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Linda Sollars

Professor, Regis University

"Linda is a talented counselor and coach. Her work is heart-centered, whole person focused, and provides powerful and positive outcomes! Focusing on WHO you are before you determine your next career move is at the core of Linda Faucheux’s work in contemplative career counseling. Her compassionate guidance provides deep (powerful) mindfulness techniques that connects head to heart and the awareness that leads to solution-focused outcomes. I highly recommend Linda. She will exceed your expectations."

a year ago

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Get Our Free PDF Guide 

Want to be happy at work? 

Grab our PDF guide and we will reveal 5 easy steps to do just that.

Our Ottawa Office

Address: 255 Albert St #705, Ottawa, ON K1P 6A9


Ottawa - Area Information

Are you in the Ottawa 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.

Ottawa Overview 

As Canada's capital city, Ottawa is a member of the G8 group of cities.  It is the second largest city in Ontario (by population) and is the fourth largest city in Canada with a population of 1.33 million people. Ottawa is geographically spread out, and is actually larger than Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. 

The Ottawa Economic Region spans Leeds and Grenville, Lanark, Prescott and Russell, Dundas and Glengarry counties and is anchored by the Ottawa Census Metropolitan Area (CMA). The economy is largely based on the federal government as well as the high technology industry within metro Ottawa, while manufacturing and agriculture are the larger industries within the more rural regions.

Ottawa has the highest standard of living across Canadian cities, as well as the most educated population. Culture and arts are recognized here, along with several research institutions being located here. Ottawa hosts several festivals throughout the year, including Winterlude, the largest Winter festival in Canada.

Ottawa receives the highest percentage of refugees and family-related immigration of any major Canadian centre, and attract people from all over the world due to high professional wages and excellent post-secondary institutions (Carleton University and The University of Ottawa). 

Ottawa is a diverse city with over 20% of the population being born in another country. As well, 75% of the population growth from 1987 to 2002 were people that relocated to Ottawa. 23% of the population are visible minorities.In 2004, the median family income in Ottawa-Gatineau was $73,500 --the highest in all of Canada.

Due to its status as the capital of Canada, and its close proximity to Quebec, Ottawa is truly a bilingual city, with both official languages represented in municipal government, in the media, and in business.

Sources: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa#Demographics
https://www.ottawatourism.ca/discover/about-ottawa/

Economic Trends & Key Industries in the Region

One of the major growing sectors in Ottawa is the technology industry. Although many people think of Toronto when they think of the Canadian tech sector, Ottawa is actually the city that currently has the greatest momentum when it comes to a growing tech sector. Looking at the tech sector growth over the past two years, Ottawa has been ranked #1 in growth amongst North American tech hubs.

The federal government is another major sector in Ottawa. Ottawa is where Canada’s federal government is located. People move from all over the country for jobs within the federal government.

 The real estate market is starting to grow in Ottawa as well. Although cities like Toronto and Vancouver have seen the highest growth in Canada, Ottawa is catching up here. Real estate, along with finance and insurance, contributes 10.4% of the Ottawa GDP.

Ottawa has several large hospitals and over 18,000 people in Ottawa are employed in the healthcare sector. In addition to hospitals, Ottawa is also home to several health research institutes.

The tourism industry in Ottawa also plays a big role. Ottawa is the seat of the Canadian federal government, so many people come to visit this city to learn more about the capital city.

Sources:
https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/budget/financial-reports-and-statements/long-range-financial-plans/long-range-financial-plan-iii-part-1-and-part-2/economy-and-demographics
https://obj.ca/article/ottawa-ranked-top-north-america-rapid-tech-employment-growth

Major Industries in Ottawa

The major industries, which account for almost 40% of Ottawa's economy are high technology and the federal government. High technology employs almost 70, 000 people, with 1700 companies; many of these (1450) employ fewer than 50 employees. The cities technology companies cover a variety of sectors such as Aerospace and Defence, eBusiness, Telecommunications and Cleantech (Source: InvestOttawa.ca). Many newspapers report that there is a talent shortage within the high-tech industry in Ottawa.

As of 2011, 315,500 federal government employees worked in a census metropolitan area (CMA), which accounts for 75% of all federal workers in Canada (Source: StasCan). Within Ottawa itself, 120,000 jobs are within the federal government, and is forecasted to continue growing with the Liberal government in power.

There are more than 140 life sciences companies in Ottawa, as well as 10 hospitals, largely focused on research with a budget of over $155M each year (InvestOttawa.ca). As the most educated city in Canada, Ottawa boasts 6 post secondary institutions, which offer studies in both English and French. These include: Carleton University, The University of Ottawa, Saint Paul University, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology and La Cité collégiale (OttawaLiving.ca).

Tourism is also a key industry, with many wishing to tour the government buildings, as well as the many art galleries of Ottawa. Many that visit Ottawa (85%) are fellow Canadians, and this industry account for $1.3B each year, employing almost 25,000 people in the city (Ottawa.ca). The city hosts several festivals, including North America's largest country music festival, Canada's largest and North America's second largest blues festival, and the world's largest hockey tournament.

Other major industries include: finance, real estate, trade and construction.

Top 20 Places to Work in the Capital Region

Algonquin College of Applied Arts & Technology

The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada

Bank of Canada

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Canada Revenue Agency / CRA

Canadian Internet Registration Authority / CIRA

Canadian Security Intelligence Service / CSIS

Canadian Transportation Agency

Carleton University

Champlain Community Care Access Centre

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

La Cité Collégiale

The Conference Board of Canada

Department of Finance Canada

Egg Farmers of Canada

(Source: Canada’s Top Employers: Ottawa)

Halogen Software Inc.

Health Canada / Santé Canada

Hydro Ottawa

Kinaxis Inc.

Lockheed Martin Canada Inc.

Medical Council of Canada

NAV CANADA

The Ottawa Catholic School Board

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Intl. Airport Authority

Ottawa, City of

Pythian Group Inc.

The Royal

Universities Canada

University of Ottawa

Fun Facts About Ottawa

  • At 2,796 sq. km, Ottawa is larger than the cities of Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton combined.
  • The city name "Ottawa" was chosen in reference to the Ottawa River nearby, which is a word derived from the Algonquin word Odawa, meaning "to trade".
  • Ottawa is the sister city of both Cairo, Egypt, as well as Beijing, China.
  • Home to the largest Winter festival in Canada – Winterlude!
  • Ottawa’s Rideau Canal is the oldest still operating canal system in North America.
  • Ottawa has more scientists, engineers, and PhDs per capita than any other Canadian city.
  • Ottawa has 14 national museums.

Source: https://hikebiketravel.com/30-fun-weird-interesting-facts-ottawa/