Sara Curto - Career Coach

10/05/2026

Let's be honest about what's happening out there right now.

AI is screening resumes before a human ever sees them. Ghosting has become so normal that candidates are celebrating when they get a rejection (at least it's an answer). And the advice floating around the internet? Half of it was outdated five years ago.

If you've been applying and hearing nothing, struggling to get interviews to turn into offers, or just staring at your LinkedIn wondering what you're supposed to do with it, it’s not you.

That's exactly why I created The Job Search Reset .

I spent 15 years in recruitment. I've reviewed over 100k resumes. I know what hiring managers actually do in the first 6 seconds with your resume, how AI screening tools work (and how to get past them), and what separates the candidates who get offers from the ones who get silence.

And I've packaged all of it into four self-guided trainings you can work through on your own schedule plus a 1:1 chat, where you can bring your real questions and get real answers from me directly.

Here's what's inside:

📌 Inside the Hiring Process: what actually happens after you hit apply (AI screening which has changed the game in 2026, recruiter reviews, hiring manager decisions. Everything you need to understand).
📌 LinkedIn for Job Seekers: a step-by-step guide on how to not just scroll LinkedIn but how to use it strategically.
📌 How to Answer Tough Interview Questions: how to show up as a human being, not a rehearsed robot so that you get that offer
📌 The Ultimate Job Search Routine: a structured, sustainable plan that doesn't make your job search a full-time job

Plus: A library with everything you need (workbooks, resume templates, guides)

All of it for $27 CAD (plus tax). (or add on a coaching session in the VIP)

Click here to join the The Job Search Reset :

Life is too short to dread your Monday to Friday. Let's get you an offer, for a job you actually want, without the confusion, the overwhelm, and the wondering what you're doing wrong.

07/07/2026

Most job seekers go quiet in July and August.

They tell themselves hiring slows down, nobody's at their desk, it's not worth the effort. So they wait. And they arrive in September with nothing to show for it: no interviews, no momentum, no offers.

But here's what I actually see with my clients who keep going through the summer:

Interviews get booked. Networking conversations happen. Offers come in (yes, even in August!).

It’s not about luck. Or forgetting about any fun in the sun activities. It's a different approach to the summer search altogether.

Because the job seekers who win the summer aren't grinding 8 hours a day in a dark room while everyone else is at the beach.

They're working smarter, protecting their energy, and staying consistent in a way that's actually sustainable.

Less can genuinely be more in a summer job search and I break down exactly why in this video.

You'll also walk away with a framework for building a weekly schedule that balances real traction with actually enjoying your summer. Because those two things aren't mutually exclusive.

If you've been tempted to hit pause until September, watch this first:

06/18/2026

I'm back at the Burlington Public Library, teaching adults this time how to write a resume.

I'm also covering how to navigate the resume screening process of 2026 (which is so different than 2025, nevermind years ago!).

If you're in Halton (you don't need a library card) and curious (or need) new work, then I highly recommend this free workshop.

It's my last one until the Fall.

There are only a few spots left so register soon.

Land a job with confidence!. Event starts at June 23, 2026 7:00 PM EDT

06/04/2026

Your resume might be getting rejected before a human ever reads it.

And the frustrating part? The mistakes that cause it are incredibly common and completely fixable.

Here are four I keep seeing:

No skills summary. This section isn't optional! It's one of the most important things on your resume. A well-written skills summary tells the ATS exactly what you bring to the table, in the language it's looking for. Skipping it is leaving interviews on the table.

Canva & Pinterest templates. I know. They look beautiful. But those heavily designed templates are an ATS nightmare: columns, graphics, and formatting that the system simply can't parse. A resume that looks stunning and never gets read is still a resume that doesn't work.

One page. Only 7% of recruiters actually want a one-page resume. If you're cramming years of experience onto a single page with the aim of being concise, you're leaving your story half-told. Give your career the space it deserves.

Too generalized. When your resume tries to speak to everyone, it resonates with no one. A diluted message gets diluted results. The more specific and targeted your resume is, the more it cuts through.

The goal isn't a resume that just looks good. It's a resume that gets you interviews, for the roles you actually want.

If you want that without the guesswork, that's what I do.

I write resumes that get people noticed and I'd love to do the same for you.

Book a free consult and let's talk about yours. Calendly.com/jobcoachsara to do it

05/29/2026

The worst interview advice I ever got: "Just be confident."

Cool. Thanks. Super helpful.

Confidence isn't a switch you flip. And for anyone who's ever blanked mid-answer, over-explained themselves into a corner, or driven home replaying everything they said. You know that.

Here's what actually works:

After bombing more interviews than I'd like to admit and then conducting thousands of them, I can tell you that the people who interview well aren't necessarily the most confident people in the room.

They're the most prepared.

Not prepared in the "memorized perfect answers" way. Prepared in the "I know what to do when things go sideways" way.

Four things that actually got me offers (and get my clients them too):

Don't fight your nerves. Work with them. Trying to eliminate nerves makes them shout at you even louder. Learning to be nervous and confident at the same time? That's the actual skill.

Plan for the worst case, not just the best. What if you blank? What if you ramble? What if you genuinely don't know the answer? Make a plan for each one. It calms your system down and strangely, makes those moments happen less.

Treat it like a conversation, not a performance. You're trying to figure out if you want to work with them too. That shift in mindset changes how you show up, less audition, more dialogue.

Practice out loud, not on paper. You don't want to be searching for mental notes mid-interview. You want stories that live in your body, not on a page. Car rides, walks, cooking. It’s where your stories become YOUR stories.

If you're heading into interviews and want to go deeper on any of this with some personalized support that's exactly what coaching with me is for.

If you’re curious about that, send me a DM and we'll set up a free call. We’ll discuss your interviews to date, I’ll walk you through my process, we’ll create a customized package and get you those offers.

Call now to connect with business.

11/28/2025

Scroll below for the Black Friday deal. For my last case study of the month, keep reading!

Background: this client came to me wanting redemption: they wanted to be valued and recognized for their talent and be in a role that allowed them to have a big impact

The Challenge: they wanted it to be everything they’d always wanted which meant it was tough to stay motivated for anything that didn’t live up to their standards. And when it did get close, they would fixate on trying to perfect it which would make it disappear.

The Solution: A lot of coaching! We got crystal clear on their Ideal Goal but also on the “I would be happy with” goals. We created job search plans that were structured and focused on my client gaining more control over opportunities. The branding opened the doors for all opportunities, the networking strategy focused on building mutually beneficial relationships.

As interviews came in, the coaching was rooted in keeping my client present and curious. And as offers came in, we negotiated on the things that mattered but let go of the things that didn’t.

My client stayed open minded and excited about where opportunities could take them.

The Outcome: Opportunities became bountiful. My client went from chasing down networking leads to becoming sought after. They took a “I would be happy with” contract that led to so many more wonderful job offers.

He went from wanting redemption to being redeemed. To becoming that valued resource and building a reputation for someone who is going to make a difference in the world.

My Key Take-Aways: we all have something we really want. And sometimes it’s the only thing that excites us. But when we realize that it may be impossible or take too long (or too much effort) we feel defeated and often times do nothing.

But I think it’s amazing to have that ideal! That ideal is our destination. But we still have to journey there. And sometimes other job opportunities are the stops we MUST take along the way to get there.

And when that journey motivates us, we become unstoppable.
So what stops are along the way to your dream?

BLACK FRIDAY DEAL

Which brings me to my Black Friday Deal! Until Sunday night at 11:59pm EST, I’m offering the map to your dream for 50% off.

The Find Work You Love Course is your route guide:
it helps you get clear on what you want next
teaches you (and gives you all the resources) to craft your branding
helps you create a job search strategy that’s balanced and works
helps you bring all of that together to shine your brightest in the interview!

Now I know your inbox is FLOODED with these emails, and, honestly, I hate getting all of them. So I won’t be sending out anymore, which means if you want to grab this do it now or set a reminder in your phone!

You can get it here: https://sara-curto---career-coach.mykajabi.com/offers/Hn8jkns5?coupon_code=BLACKFRIDAY50

The coupon code is BLACKFRIDAY50!

Have a great weekend,
Sara

P.S. Did you like the case studies? Want me to keep doing them?

11/26/2025

A Simple Mindset Shift That Can Lead to Immediate Job Opportunities

I want to share a moment from a current Hired & Happy client that still gives me chills.

We’re only halfway through our work together, so there are many incredible wins still to come. But in just our second session, something shifted that led to immediate momentum.

And I’m sharing this because I suspect you might be carrying the same belief she was…

She truly believed that no one would want to hire her.

Her list of reasons felt endless:
➡️ “I don’t have enough Canadian experience.”
➡️“I’ve only worked in one industry.”
➡️ “English is my second language.”
➡️And so many more.

So we did two things.

First, we gently unpacked and challenged the limiting beliefs, the stories she had been telling herself about her worth and employability.

But just as importantly, I shifted her into a completely different lens. I showed her what talent acquisition teams and hiring managers actually see when they look at a profile like hers.

Because for years, I was the person on the other side of the table hiring
people with backgrounds exactly like hers.

And it was the combination of those two perspectives that changed everything.

By the end of the call, the tears were gone. In their place? Hope. Confidence. Possibility.

By our very next session, she had opportunities coming her way.
And again by the session after that.

Once she truly saw her value, she started having different conversations. And those conversations opened doors that, just weeks earlier, she believed were impossible.

To be honest, this is why I love my coaching style.

I blend the mindset and identity work from my counseling and coaching background with the real-world hiring insight from my recruitment career.

It’s that dual perspective that helps my clients move quickly from self-doubt to real results.

So if you’re struggling with the belief that “no one will hire me,” here’s your simple reframe:

Write down every reason you think you’re “unhireable.”

Then question each one:
❓ Is this fact… or fear?
❓Is this the only way to interpret this?
❓ What else could hiring teams be thinking about me?

Just because some employers might pass for one reason doesn’t mean all will.

Not even close.

If you’re open to it, drop one of your reasons in the comments (or DM me). I’d love to help you rewrite it.

You may be much closer to your next opportunity than you think.

If this story resonates and you’re ready for your own breakthrough shift, here’s the link to book a free discovery call with me:

calendly.com/jobcoachsara

We’ll look at what’s really holding you back, and how working together can unlock amazing opportunties.

Hi! You're here because you are sick and tired of being stuck in a crappy job or job search. By scheduling this call you are taking your first step to finding your right career.

11/24/2025

Have a teen in your life that is interested in finding a part-time or summer job or who needs a resume for their post-secondary applications?
Well I have a training for them!

This week on YouTube, I’m doing a full workshop on how to write a resume for teens. It’s one of my most popular workshops that I do with the Burlington Public Library. It fills up incredibly fast and not everyone lives in Halton - so I’ve decided to put it on YouTube!

In the video I go through everything, including sharing a sample template with relevant experiences like babysitting, school projects, clubs and extracurriculars and how to write bullet points for them.

It’s jam packed with value.
Head here to watch: https://youtu.be/oLFm9rxnm8M

11/21/2025

I’m excited about today’s story. This is a story about a rule follower who decided to leap outside their comfort zone and end up in a job they love.

Background: this client was an entrepreneur, running their own business. But they were incredibly unhappy. It was too much pressure, they weren’t having the meaningful impact they wanted and they were sick of not being a part of a team. But they loved the panache of their business and they stayed stuck because there was so much potential to make a lot of money. Everytime they wanted to leave, they would “should” themselves back into staying. But it’s hard to go all in on something you hate.

The Challenge: they had no idea what they wanted, and their field was so specialized they were worried that they’d have to go back to school, which they really didn’t want to do.

The Solution: We followed by career exploration steps and it became pretty crystal clear the field this person should be in. This created another problem: they had no experience, and a particular certification would be beneficial. But with some networking we realized that they could get the job and then get the certification paid for by the organization!

So they got to work. First by throwing all the “rules” of what you should do in a job search out the window. They went in person, they pitched partnerships, they asked questions not typically asked.

It wasn’t easy for this rule follower but they were 100% committed to this career change.

The Outcome: they actually got a lot of interview, even got to an offer stage on one. Which they turned down because there was not movement on pay!! This rule follower couldn’t believe they had the confidence to do that.

But the right offer did come in, and my client negotiated for more money. And this one accepted. It checked ALL of her boxes and more. It’s been two months and they’re so happy that they took this chance on themselves. That they stopped “shoulding” themselves in every aspect of this career - they closed down a business, they found a new job by breaking job search rules and the biggest should of all “that they should be happy with something that was draining them”.

The Key Take-Away: I will follow any rule. As long as it makes sense. But if it doesn’t, I’m breaking it (I got threatened with suspension for constantly breaking uniform policy in high school).

So when a job search rule stops making sense for my clients, we find ways to break it. It’s really just about thinking outside the box and our comfort zones.

So this week - ask yourself how you are “shoulding” yourself into a corner. And what rules can you break to get you out. You’ll never know what could come from it!