AtWork connects Fox Valley job seekers with careers

Jennifer Much

Contributor

January 13, 2025

APPLETON – At their foundation, Jasmine Castillejo-Simental said staffing agencies connect companies seeking employees with skilled professionals.

Not only do they streamline the recruitment process, but Castillejo-Simental said they match qualified candidates from within a variety of industries.

She said she, along with her husband, Tony, are doing what they can to give job seekers in the Fox Valley area access to even more valuable career opportunities with the opening of AtWork in Appleton.

Encouraging meaningful connections

Castillejo-Simental said the Appleton branch of AtWork – a nationwide staffing agency franchise company – is the first locally owned franchise location in the State of Wisconsin.

Located at 816 W. Capitol Drive in Appleton, she said AtWork will serve surrounding communities, including Kaukauna, Freedom, Black Creek, New London and Manawa, in addition to other nearby areas. 

Together, Castillejo-Simental said she and Tony – both Green Bay natives – bring more than 15 years of experience in the staffing industry and hope to help individuals connect with career opportunities.

“The inspiration to open AtWork stemmed from a passion for helping people and businesses to thrive,” she said.

After seeing a growing need in the community for dependable staffing solutions, Castillejo-Simental said she was called to find a way to introduce employers to skilled workers, as well as foster long-term working relationships.

“I wanted to create a business that could make a real difference by helping job seekers find meaningful employment and helping businesses grow by connecting them with the right talent,” she said.

Castillejo-Simental said her motivation behind introducing AtWork to the area was inspired by her desire to bridge the traditional gap between employees and job seekers in both an effective and personalized way.

She said she felt that the Fox Cities was a prime location for the office.

“Appleton is a vibrant and growing community with a diverse economy that includes everything from manufacturing to tech startups and healthcare,” she said. “I saw an opportunity to provide valuable staffing services that could support the local economy and meet the needs of local businesses.”

Castillejo-Simental said the area’s proximity to larger metropolitan areas also influenced her decision when she was looking for office space.

“Appleton’s central location and business-friendly environment make it an ideal hub for connecting employers and workers from surrounding areas,” she said.

A journey to business ownership

When she and Tony first decided to start a business, Castillejo-Simental said they knew they wanted to help other individuals thrive in life – drawing inspiration from their own experiences.

“My husband and I both have backgrounds in STEM, which provides a unique foundation for operating a staffing center,” she said. “While our expertise is rooted in analytical thinking and problem-solving, these skills are essential in the staffing industry as well.”

As they worked on the details of their entrepreneurial venture, Castillejo-Simental said they invested time into researching various options – part of which included enlisting the help of local franchise consultant, Lisa Welko.

“She is an amazing individual and a very knowledgeable franchise broker,” Castillejo-Simental said. “We worked with her for a few months in deciding what business aligned the best with our values and skill sets.”

After discovering AtWork, Castillejo-Simental said she and Tony decided to move forward in applying for a franchise and were accepted.

Before formally opening their own location, she said they visited the corporate office on numerous occasions and underwent specialized training in Knoxville, Tennessee.

“It took about nine months from the start of the planning phase to the grand opening,” she said. “Opening AtWork here felt like a natural fit, and we’ve been proud to become part of the fabric of this wonderful community.”

In December 2024, their hard work paid off and the AtWork staffing agency opened its doors.

“We celebrated our grand opening by having a small in-house celebration for our team, Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and chamber members,” Castillejo-Simental said. 

Helping others to thrive 

Castillejo-Simental said AtWork provides beneficial services for individuals seeking positions as well as business owners looking for quality employees.

She said it provides temp-to-hire services where they assume the responsibilities of hiring and completing payroll until both the employer and employee commit to a long-term position.

“The hiring process can be extremely tenuous from creating (a position), deciding where to post a job, screening, interviewing, drug tests and skill assessments, to onboarding, completing payroll and paying workers compensation and taxes,” she said.

With the multitude of needs a business has, Castillejo-Simental said AtWork is an ideal tool for owners who are at capacity but still have additional or new payroll, hiring or human resource duties. 

AtWork, she said, offers temporary positions, as well as payroll-only management services, which can benefit companies during their busy seasons.

“We also offer direct-hire placements after ensuring the placements are a great fit for both,” she said.

Most importantly, Castillejo-Simental said AtWork has a straightforward onboarding process for job seekers and resources that help them every step of the way.

“Job seekers are very important to us, and for that reason, we strive to help them best market themselves by offering skill development training and one-on-one in-person consultations,” she said.

Since every individual is unique and at a different place in their job hunt, Castillejo-Simental said AtWork tailors assistance to fit the job seekers’ unique needs by working diligently to find matches for their strengths.

“AtWork evaluates the skills, qualifications and preferences of job seekers to match them with positions that suit their expertise and interests,” she said. “We have access to and perform the market research, so they do not have to.” 

From providing support in crafting resumes to preparing for interviews, Castillejo-Simental said staff members at AtWork ensure applicants are equipped with the tools they need to present themselves professionally.

She said they are also able to offer guidance on different career paths, industry trends and any and all emerging skills that are in demand.

“This can help job seekers make informed decisions about their career goals,” she said.

The future is bright for all

Though AtWork is still new to the area, Castillejo-Simental said she has already set the bar high for her business when it comes to future plans.

“We anticipate participating in local job fairs, creating skill-building events and being an active member in the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce,” she said.

Castillejo-Simental said networking will play a vital role in her business and would love to partner with local colleges to offer sales and recruitment internships and to provide job placement services for graduates.

Over time, she said her path may also lead to additional AtWork locations.

“In the next five years, I can see us expanding in Wisconsin,” she said. “We are the first AtWork in the state and our territory is primarily in the Fox Cities, but I can see the demand pushing us toward the Green Bay or Madison areas.”

Castillejo-Simental said expanding AtWork would mean the ability to provide more services to job seekers, including in areas of greater need and during fluctuations in the economy.

She said it would also positively influence the pool of candidates for employers.

“The advice I would give job seekers today is to recognize that our community is in a talent shortage and there is a surplus of positions in our community,” she said. “Though you may hear that people have applied to 100-plus positions with no callbacks, there are ways to get that callback, therefore, do not get discouraged.”

Whether an individual is re-entering the workforce, is new to the area, desires to pivot their career or simply is stuck waiting for a callback, Castillejo-Simental said she and the team at AtWork can help reduce anxiety by streamlining the process.

“We are motivated to see our community thrive and are more than happy to assist in skill building – such as resume writing, interview preparation or job search strategies – to help job seekers succeed,” she said.

Castillejo-Simental said AtWork is open for walk-ins from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment on Saturdays.

For more details, visit atwork.com/locations/appleton.