WorkingWoman.com is proud of its support for Dress for Success, a unique nonprofit agency that works with job-training programs, homeless shelters, and other partners to distribute interview suits to low-income women. The following profile is one of a series that will feature a woman whose journey toward a successful career was aided by this unique and inspiring program.

Jane Cervenek was living the American dream. Married at 23 and a mother at 24, she had quit her job to raise her daughter and dedicate 30 hours a week to volunteer work. Life was good — or so she thought.

In 1994, Jane's husband was seriously injured on the job, then laid off. With no college education and out-of-date work experience, Jane enrolled in a displaced homemakers program to learn a skill and get back into the workforce. For six months, she participated in a series of assessment exercises that identified her propensity for engineering. With the support of a program counselor, Jane obtained the funds to attend Cuyahoga Community College, and in the fall of 1994, she began pursuing an Associate degree in mechanical engineering technology.

But the financial strain took its toll on the family and Jane's husband decided that their relationship was beyond repair. After 11 years together, the couple separated in 1995. With her 10-year-old daughter in tow, Jane secured a small one-bedroom apartment and began her life as a single mother. It would take four years for the divorce proceedings to go through, during which time Jane would receive zero financial support.

The next few years were "full of busy days and many sacrifices," Jane recalls. She worked 20 hours a week at the college to make ends meet and get some hands-on experience in her field. She supplemented her income as a Mary Kay cosmetics consultant and a camp counselor in the summers. A consistent Dean's List student, Jane graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in June of 1999 and returned to the displaced homemakers program for job-placement assistance. The program referred her to Dress for Success, a partner agency that offers interview-appropriate attire to low-income women seeking employment. At Dress for Success, Jane received one-on-one attention from a personal shopper, who helped boost her self-esteem for the interview and provided her with the clothes to make a strong first impression. When Jane landed a job as a mechanical draftsperson, Dress for Success invited her back to become part of its Professional Women's Group, a networking association for newly employed women.

The Professional Women's Group is the only national association of its kind that provides ongoing career advancement support to women entering the workforce. Jane credits the Professional Women's Group with helping her get beyond the initial intimidation of working in a predominantly male environment. "Of the 17% women graduating with engineering degrees, only 8% work in the engineering field. The issues that come up on my job immediately create reasons for quitting — my usual response to discomfort on a job," Jane explains. "The Professional Women's Group is teaching me how to combat these challenges and grow more comfortable working with a bunch of guys. I have before me the work that I had wanted all the time, but I have had every reason in the world to quit. If it wasn't for the Professional Women's Group, I would have."