We were lucky to catch up with Constance Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Constance, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

When I launched HJ Staffing, it was just me, sitting at my dining room table with a laptop, a phone, and a vision. No team, no admin support, just grit, faith, and long nights. I wore every hat imaginable: recruiter, sales, payroll, HR, even IT support when things broke down. Some days I’d be pitching a staffing contract in the morning and onboarding a temp by the afternoon. It was exhausting, but it grounded me in every part of the business.
My first hires didn’t come from job boards, they came from my network. A former colleague, a friend-of-a-friend, someone I’d mentored before. I needed people who believed in the vision more than the paycheck. I couldn’t offer big salaries, but I offered flexibility, real opportunity, and the chance to help build something meaningful.
The interview process was all heart and hustle. I asked questions like, “What do you do when a candidate no-shows?” or “How do you manage a tough client?” I wanted people who could adapt, care, and problem-solve.
Training was unconventional. I built playbooks on the fly, recorded tutorials at night, and trained new hires over Zoom, often while juggling a kindergartner at home. But we figured it out.
If I were starting today, I would raise capital earlier. Not for flash, but to invest in automation tools, CRM systems, and a dedicated sales push from day one. It would’ve saved time, increased revenue, and protected my energy. Still, I wouldn’t change how I built my first team. They were more than employees, they were believers. And that made all the difference.

Constance, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Constance Jones, Founder and CEO of HJ Staffing, and also known as The Personnel Matchmaker. I’ve spent over a decade in human resources, recruiting, and workforce development, and I’ve turned that experience into a purpose-driven staffing agency that connects great talent with the employers who need them most.

I got into this industry because I saw a gap. I was working in corporate HR and constantly heard the same complaints: companies couldn’t find dependable, qualified talent, and job seekers felt overlooked and discouraged. I knew I could bridge that gap with something more intentional. That’s how HJ Staffing was born, right at my dining room table with just a laptop, a phone, and a mission to make hiring more human.

Today, HJ Staffing is a certified woman-owned staffing and HR consulting agency. We specialize in temporary, temp-to-perm, direct hire, and payroll services across administrative, IT, accounting, light industrial, and healthcare roles. We work with municipalities, school districts, corporate clients, and mission-driven small businesses.

What sets us apart is not just what we do, but how we do it. We focus on fit, not just filling seats. We specialize in identifying overlooked yet highly qualified candidates, people who may not always get noticed by traditional recruiters but are more than ready to deliver. We take the time to truly understand both our clients’ needs and our candidates’ potential.

One of the things I’m most proud of is our nonprofit arm, the Readi Heart Foundation, which supports job readiness for underserved youth and families through donation drives, resume workshops, and career prep programs. It’s my way of giving back to the same communities we serve professionally.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about my brand, it’s that we’re built on purpose, not just profit. Whether you’re a company struggling to find the right hire or someone just trying to get your foot in the door, HJ Staffing meets you with strategy, compassion, and results.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing a team and maintaining high morale isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being present. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a leader is that people want to feel seen, heard, and valued. You can have all the systems in the world, but if your team doesn’t feel appreciated, burnout will follow.

My advice? Lead with clarity, consistency, and care. Set clear expectations, hold everyone including yourself, accountable, and create space for open dialogue. Don’t wait for performance reviews to give feedback, celebrate the small wins, address the challenges early, and listen more than you speak.

I also believe in checking in, not just checking on. I ask my team how they’re really doing. We’ve all got lives outside of work, and acknowledging that balance makes a huge difference in morale and loyalty.

Finally, never underestimate the power of recognition. A quick “thank you,” a public shout-out, or even a handwritten note goes a long way. When people know their work matters, they’ll show up with more energy, more commitment, and more pride.

Morale doesn’t happen by accident, it’s something you have to build, nurture, and protect as a leader every single day.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the habit of comparison. Early on in business, I’d look around at what other entrepreneurs or staffing agencies were doing and feel like I was behind. I’d see the polished social media posts, the big announcements, the client wins, and wonder, “Am I missing something? Should I be doing more?”

But over time, I learned to stay focused on my own path. Yes, it’s important to be aware of the market and stay inspired, but not at the cost of your peace or clarity. What someone shows you online is rarely the full picture. You don’t know what they had to sacrifice, what they struggled through, or what’s actually working behind the scenes.

Where I am right now, and what I’m experiencing, is uniquely aligned with my brand and my business. I had to remind myself that growth looks different for everyone, and that’s okay. The real progress is happening behind the scenes: in the systems I’m building, the clients I’m nurturing, the team I’m developing. That’s the part that doesn’t always get posted, but it’s the part that matters.

Unlearning comparison gave me the freedom to build with intention and to trust that what’s for me won’t miss me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hjstaffing.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/hjstaffing
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/hjstaffing
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hjstaffing
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hjstaffing