November 8, 2023 by Ewell Smith
Gerald Rossen, Founder and CEO of HustleHawks, shares how his app connects college students with jobs around universities.
5 takeaways Gerald shares on this episode of the Close The Deal. Com Podcast :
- Gerald's favorite restaurant to close the deal with a potential client
- The inspiration behind HustelHawks as a freshman college business project
- How community members can hire college students using HustleHawks
- How college students can find jobs using HustleHawks
- What universities are using it, and which are next
This episode is brought to you by YourFirstFranchise.com
Connect with Gerald at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerald-rossen/
Close The Deal .Com Podcast Player
CTD Podcast with Gerald Rossen
HustleHawks
On this episode of the CloseTheDeal.Com Podcast, Ewell Smith interviews Gerald Rossen, the co-founder of HustleHawks. Gerald shared his inspiring journey from a college student to a successful entrepreneur right out of college
The Birth of HustleHawks
HustleHawks is an app that bridges the gap between college students seeking flexible part-time work and community members in need of various services such as cleaning, moving, tutoring, and more. Customers can post job listings on the app, complete with their desired price, while students can browse and apply for gigs that align with their schedules and skill sets. The concept behind the app stemmed from Rossen's personal experiences as a college freshman, struggling to balance academics and part-time employment.
Fostering Lasting Client Relationships
During the podcast interview, Rossen highlighted the app's achievements and its significant impact on the New Orleans community. He underscored the importance of students' personalities, explaining that engaging and friendly interactions with clients play a pivotal role in building lasting relationships. Rossen even shared a heartwarming anecdote about personally helping a customer move a mattress in a time of need, emphasizing his unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction.
Strategic Outreach and Growth
To reach students and clients, HustleHawks employs a combination of networking, personal outreach, and social media marketing. Remarkably, the app has successfully garnered over 700 student sign-ups from various local colleges and continues to grow. Rossen's ingenious strategy of engaging with customers personally, including handwritten sticky notes on flyers, has been particularly effective in building trust and fostering loyalty.
Future Expansion and Advice for Students
Looking ahead, Rossen envisions expanding HustleHawks to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with LSU as the next target market. He has ambitious plans for further growth throughout the southern states, including Florida, Georgia, and Texas. Rossen offers valuable advice to college students seeking employment: attend networking events and career fairs to establish in-person connections with potential employers and utilize LinkedIn to connect with alumni and mutual connections for mentorship and job opportunities.
Inspiring Change and Community Engagement
Gerald Rossen's inspiring journey from a college project to start-up business upon graduation is s a testament to entrepreneurship, innovation, and community engagement at any age.
Make sure to visit HustleHawks.com
About The Author: Ewell Smith - Certified Franchise Consultant / Publisher - Close The Deal / Host - Close The Deal Podcast / Author - Your First Franchise Roadmap - Ewell serves aspiring entrepreneurs and Veterans considering a franchise. To learn more, contact Ewell.
