Jolene Tate Discusses Successful Staffing Traits on the Talent Hunters Podcast

Jolene Tate, franchise owner of HireQuest Direct and TradeCorp, recently appeared on Talent Hunters to talk about what it really takes to succeed in staffing—especially during uncertain times. In her conversation with host Vince Holt, Tate shared the lessons she’s learned from two decades in the industry, the role of technology in staffing, and why second-chance employment is more than just a buzzword.

Weathering the Constantly Shifting Industry

The staffing industry has its highs and lows, and no one knows that better than Tate. With over 25 years in the business, she’s seen markets surge and cool off. But through it all, one thing has remained constant: Success comes from sticking to the fundamentals.

“There’s never a dull moment,” she said. “I’ve been doing staffing for over 25 years, and no two days have ever been the same. But getting back to the basics—like building relationships with your customers and being a positive role model to your team and your employees—is so important.”

When asked about the biggest changes she’s seen in staffing over the years, Tate didn’t hesitate with her answer.

“Definitely technology,” said Tate. “Years ago, when we would open our HireQuest Direct branch in the morning at 5:00 a.m., we would have 200 or 300 people that would come into our parking lot to see if we had work for the day. Now, it’s mostly done through the phone, emails, texting and other platforms.”

Balancing Technology with Human Connection

While technology has made staffing faster and more efficient, Tate emphasized that it can never fully replace real human connections.

“Some staffing companies have gone 100% app-based, and there’s no personal touch,” she said. “For us, there’s a balance between keeping that personal touch while leveraging technology. We have brick-and-mortar buildings, and we have reps that hit the field every single day. Technology helps us do our jobs, but it doesn’t replace that connection.”

The Power of Second Chances

A core part of Tate’s mission is giving people the opportunity to rebuild their lives through employment. Many of the businesses she partners with are open to hiring workers with past challenges, as long as they’re ready to show up and put in the effort.

“We call ourselves ‘background friendly,’” said Tate. “People that are coming from a halfway house or transitional housing based on some things that have happened in their past, they just want someone to give them a chance. So, we look at their background and see what positions we can put them in.”

Tune In to the Full Episode

If you want to hear more about how Tate navigates the always-evolving staffing industry, embraces technology without losing the human touch, and continues to create opportunities for workers across the country, check out her episode of Talent Hunters on Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.