Beyond the 9-to-5: How CareerCatchers Helped Jasmen go from Job to Entrepreneur
My name is Jasmen, and earlier this year, I faced one of the hardest chapters of my life. In February 2024, I lost my job—and as a mother of three, that loss quickly spiraled. With bills to pay and no income, I ended up unhoused, staying with my children at the Red Roof Inn through support from Services to End and Prevent Homelessness (SEP). That’s when I was introduced to CareerCatchers and met my career coach, William.
I came in focused on getting a new job, but searching at the senior management level was incredibly difficult. There aren’t many resources for people who’ve advanced that far in their careers, and the rejections wore me down. But from the start, William was a blessing. He reviewed my résumé, offered detailed feedback, and sent me job leads, local career fairs, and Empowerment and Job Club workshops offered by CareerCatcher’s. He never stopped.
One moment I’ll never forget was before an important interview. William offered to do a mock interview with me. At the end, he looked at me and said, “You definitely got this.” After receiving rejection letter after rejection letter, hearing those words gave me a real sense of peace. It reminded me that I was showing up how I needed to—prepared, polished, and professional. I realized I wasn’t being passed over because of my qualifications or interview skills. I was being passed over because I came with executive-level experience—and the salary that comes with it. Companies often chose someone less experienced simply because they could pay them less.
That realization could have crushed me. But instead, I reminded myself: I know my worth. And William reminded me of it too.
That’s when our conversations shifted. William encouraged me to revisit my entrepreneurial spirit—something I’ve had since I was 21, when I launched my first LLC. He introduced me to the Entrepreneur Training for Success (ETS) program through LEDC. I applied, got accepted, and have spent the last few months fully immersed. On July 30, I’ll graduate from ETS with a rebranded business—Brain Hospitality Group, my hospitality consulting firm.
I now help bars, restaurants, and hotels train their staff and managers in service excellence and financial strategy—things like forecasting, budgeting, and P&L management. I’ve also expanded into commercial interior design, offering spaces that reflect the service and brand goals of my clients. It’s work I love.
Still, I’m a mother of three, and consistent income is critical. I’m still job searching while continuing to grow my business. But the question lingers: do I walk away from everything I’ve built for the stability of a paycheck? It’s not an easy answer.
What I do know is this: I’ve come a long way. I’ve had a tough year, but I feel incredibly blessed. William never gave up on me—he kept sending jobs, kept checking in, and kept reminding me of what I bring to the table. And that support, that belief—it’s priceless.