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Michael Vaudreuil, 54, lost it all in the economic meltdown of 2008. His business collapsed and he was out of a job and would soon be out of money if he hadn't taken a part-time gig as a janitor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.

He lost his home, his life savings, and his self respect.

He's been a janitor ever since, but, using the school's free-tuition program, he took classes at the school and in May, he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering degree, plus a minor in psychology.

He kept applying for jobs. But he's 54. So he kept working as a janitor while he searched for work.

On July 11, he starts at Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut.

“I’m going to quote one of my favorite movies—they made me an offer I couldn't refuse,” he told 

, WPI's newspaper. “I’m looking forward to the satisfaction and fulfillment that will come with the job.”

What if his story hadn't gone viral? Would a 54-year-old guy with a bachelor's degree get a job offer from Fortune 500 companies?

“I was certainly welcoming of it, because I thought it would help networking-wise,” he said. “To the degree that it took off was a bit surprising. It was almost an out-of-body experience. You see this happen, things go viral—now it’s happening to me.”

Until he moves and starts at his new job next month, Vaudreuil plans to keep cleaning.

NewsCut

Bob Collins

Author

Michael Vaudreuil, 54, lost it all in the economic meltdown of 2008. His business collapsed and he was out of a job and would soon be out of money if he hadn't taken a part-time gig as a janitor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.


Hard work and a viral story propels 54-year-old grad

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