<PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit 10.22

                               PROMISSORY NOTE
                               ---------------

$2,000,000                                                      January 25, 1999

                                                           Cupertino, California

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Brenda Rhodes ("Borrower"), promises
to pay to Hall, Kinion & Associates, Inc. (the "Company"), at its principal
offices at 19925 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 180, Cupertino, California 95014,
the principal sum of $2,000,000, together with interest from the date of this
Note on the unpaid principal balance upon the terms and conditions specified
below.

     1.  Principal and Interest, The principal balance of this Note together
         ----------------------
with interest accrued and unpaid to date shall be due and payable three (3)
years from the date of this Note.

     2.  Rate of Interest.  Interest shall accrue under the Note on any unpaid
         ----------------
principal balance at the rate of the Company's cost of borrowing plus 1/8% per
annum, compounded monthly.

     3.  Prepayment.  Prepayment of principal and interest may be made at any
         ----------
rime without penalty.

     4.  Events of Acceleration.  The entire unpaid principal sum and unpaid
         ----------------------
interest of this Note shall become immediately due and payable upon one or more
of the following events:

         A.  the failure of the Borrower to pay when due the principal balance
and accrued interest on this Note and the continuation of such default for more
than thirty (30) days; or

         B.  the insolvency of the Borrower, the commission of an act of
bankruptcy by the Borrower, the execution by the Borrower of a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors, the filing by or against the Borrower
of a petition in bankruptcy or a petition for relief under the provisions of the
federal bankruptcy act or another state or federal law for the relief of debtors
and the continuation of such petition without dismissal for a period of ninety
(90) days or more; or

         C.  the occurrence of an event of default under the Stock Pledge
Agreement securing this Note or any obligation secured thereby.

Borrower, in addition to the collateral under the Stock Pledge Agreement, may be
applied to the satisfaction of the Borrower's obligations hereunder.

     5.  Collection.  If action is instituted to collect this Note, the Borrower
         ----------
promises to pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney
fees) incurred in connection with such action

     6.  Waiver.  No previous waiver and no failure or delay by the Company or
         ------
Borrower in acting with respect to the terms of this Note or the Stock Pledge
Agreement shall constitute a
<PAGE>

waiver of any breach, default, or failure of condition under this Note, the
Stock Pledge Agreement, or the obligations secured thereby. A waiver of any
term of this Note, the Stock Pledge Agreement, or of any of the obligations
secured thereby must be made in writing and signed by a duly authorized
officer of the Company and shall be limited to the express terms of such
waiver.

     Borrower hereby expressly waives presentment and demand for payment at such
time as any payments are due under this Note.

     7.  Conflicting Agreements.  In the event of any inconsistencies between
         ----------------------
the terms of this Note and the terms of any other document related to the loan
evidenced by the Note, the terms of this Note shall prevail.

     8.  Governing Law.  This Note shall be construed in accordance with the
         -------------
laws of the State of California.



                              Signature of Borrower:  Brenda Rhodes

                              Address:

                                       2
<PAGE>

                           STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT
                           ----------------------

     In order to secure payment of that certain January 25, 1999 promissory note
(the "Note") payable to Hall, Kinion & Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company") having its corporate offices at 19925 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite
180, Cupertino, California 95014. in the principal amount of $2,000,000, which
Note the Borrower delivered in connection with a loan extended to the Borrower
by the Company, the Borrower hereby grants the Company a security interest in,
and assigns, transfers to and pledges with the Company, the following securities
and other property:

          (i)   the 1,000,000 shares of Company common stock ("Common Stock")
delivered to and deposited with the Company as collateral for the Note; and

          (ii)   any and all new, additional or different securities or other
property subsequently distributed with respect to the shares identified in
subparagraph (i) that are to be delivered to and deposited with the Company
pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 3 of this Agreement; and

          (iii)  any and all other property and money that is delivered to or
comes into the possession of the Company pursuant to the terms and provisions of
this Agreement; and

          (iv)   the proceeds of any sale, exchange or disposition of the
property and securities described in subparagraphs (i), (ii) or (iii) above.

     All securities, property and money to be assigned to, transferred to and
pledged with the Company shall be herein referred to as the "Collateral" and
shall be accompanied by one or more stock power assignments properly endorsed by
the Borrower.  The Company shall hold the Collateral in accordance with the
following terms and provisions:

     1.  Warranties.  The Borrower hereby warrants that the Borrower is the
         ----------
owner of the Collateral and has the right to pledge the Collateral and that the
Collateral is free from all liens, advance claims and other security interests
(other than those created hereby).

     2.  Rights and Powers.  The Company's Compensation Committee or Board of
         -----------------
Directors may, without obligation to do so, exercise one or more of the
following rights and powers with respect to the Collateral:

         (a) accept in its discretion, but subject to the applicable
limitations of paragraphs 7(a), (c) and (d), other property of the Borrower in
exchange for all or part of the Collateral and release Collateral to the
Borrower to the extent necessary to effect such exchange, and, in such event
the money, property or securities received in the exchange shall be held by
the Company as substitute security for the Note and all other indebtedness
secured hereunder;

         (b) perform such acts as are necessary to preserve and protect the
Collateral and the rights, powers and remedies ranted with respect to such
Collateral by this Agreement; and

                                       3
<PAGE>

         (c) transfer record ownership of the Collateral to the Company or its
nominee and receive, endorse and give receipt for, or collect by legal
proceedings or otherwise, dividends or other distributions made or paid with
respect to the Collateral, provided arid only if there exists at the time an
                           ---------------------
outstanding event of default under paragraph 8 of this Agreement.

     Any action by the Company pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph 2
may be taken without notice to the Borrower.  Expenses reasonably incurred in
connection with such action shall be payable by the Borrower and form part of
the indebtedness secured hereunder as provided in paragraph 10.

     So long as there exists no event of default under paragraph 8 of this
Agreement, the Borrower may exercise all shareholder voting rights and be
entitled to receive any and all regular cash dividends paid on the Collateral.
Accordingly, until such time as an event of default occurs under this Agreement,
all proxy statements and other shareholder materials pertaining to the
Collateral shall be delivered to the Borrower at the address indicated below.

     Any cash sums that the Company may receive in the exercise of its rights
and powers under paragraph 2(b) above shall be applied to the payment of the
Note and any other indebtedness secured hereunder, in such order of application
as the Company deems appropriate.  Any remaining cash shall be paid over to the
Borrower.

     3.  Duty to Deliver.  Any new, additional or different securities that may
         ---------------
now or hereafter become distributable with respect to the Collateral by reason
of (i) any stock dividend, stock split or reclassification of the capital stock
of the Company, or (ii) any merger, consolidation or other reorganization
affecting the capital structure of the Company, shall, upon receipt by the
Borrower, be promptly delivered to and deposited with the Company as part of the
Collateral hereunder.  Such securities shall be accompanied by one or more
properly-endorsed stock power assignments.

     4.  Care of Collateral.  The Company shall exercise reasonable care in the
         ------------------
custody and preservation of the Collateral, but shall have no obligation to
initiate any action with respect to, or otherwise inform the Borrower of, any
conversion, call, exchange right, preemptive right, subscription right, purchase
offer or other right or privilege relating to or affecting the Collateral;
provided, however, that the Company will notify the Borrower of any such rights
of the Borrower to protect against adverse claims or to protect the Collateral
against the possibility of a decline in market value.  The Company shall not be
obligated to take any action with respect to the Collateral requested by the
Borrower unless the request is made in writing and the Company determines that
the requested action will not unreasonably jeopardize the value of the
Collateral as security for the Note and other indebtedness secured hereunder.

     The Company may at any time release and deliver all or part of the
Collateral to the Borrower, and the receipt thereof by the Borrower shall
constitute a complete and full acquittance for the Collateral so released and
delivered.  The Company shall accordingly be discharged from any further
liability or responsibility for the Collateral, and the released Collateral
shall no longer be subject to the provisions of this Agreement.  However, any
and all releases of the Collateral shall be effected in compliance with the
applicable limitations of paragraphs 7(a) and 7(c).

                                       4
<PAGE>

     5.  Payment of Taxes and Other Charges.  The Borrower shall pay, prior to
         ----------------------------------
the delinquency date, all taxes, liens, assessments and other charges against
the Collateral, and in the event of the Borrower's failure to do so, the Company
may at its election pay any or all of such taxes and charges without contesting
the validity or legality thereof.  The payments so made shall become part of the
indebtedness secured hereunder and until paid shall bear interest at the per
annum rate, compounded monthly, as set fourth in the note.

     6.  Transfer of Collateral.  In connection with the transfer or assignment
         ----------------------
of the note (whether by negotiation, discount or otherwise), the Company may
transfer all or any part of the Collateral, and the transferee shall thereupon
succeed to all the rights, powers and remedies granted the Company hereunder
with respect to the Collateral so transferred.  Upon such transfer, the Company
shall be fully discharged from all liability and responsibility for the
transferred Collateral.

     7.  Release of Collateral.  Provided (i) all indebtedness secured hereunder
         ---------------------
shall at the time have been paid in full or canceled and (ii) there does not
otherwise exist any event of default under paragraph 8, the pledged shares of
Common Stock, together with any additional Collateral that may hereafter be
pledged and deposited hereunder, shall be released from pledge and returned to
the Borrower in accordance with the following provisions:

         (a) Upon payment or prepayment of principal under the Note, together
with payment of all accrued interest to date, one or more shares of Common Stock
held as Collateral hereunder shall (subject to the applicable limitations of
paragraphs 7(c) and (d) below) be released to the Borrower within three (3) days
after such payment or prepayment.  The number of shares to be so released shall
be equal to the number obtained by multiplying (i) the total number of shares of
Common Stock held under this Agreement at the time of the payment or prepayment,
by (ii) a fraction of the numerator of which shall be the amount of the
principal paid or prepaid and the denominator of which shall be the unpaid
principal balance of the Note immediately prior to such payment or prepayment.
In no event, however, shall any fractional shares be released.  In addition, one
or more shares of Common Stock held as Collateral hereunder may (subject to the
applicable limitations of paragraphs 7(c) and (d) below) be released to a stock
broker designated in writing by the Borrower and acceptable to the Company for
the sole purpose of effecting an immediate sale of the released shares and
provided that such stock broker agrees to forward any proceeds (up to the
balance of principal and interest due under the Note) directly to the Company to
be used to satisfy the Note.

         (b) Any additional Collateral that may hereafter be pledged and
deposited with the Company (pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 3) with
respect to the shares of Common Stock pledged hereunder shall be released at the
same time the particular shares of Common Stock to which the additional
Collateral relates are to be released in accordance with the applicable
provisions of paragraph 7(a).  Under no circumstances, however, shall any shares
of Common Stock or any other Collateral be released if previously applied to the
payment of any indebtedness secured hereunder.

         (c) In no event, however, shall any shares of Common Stock be released
pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs 7(a) or 7(b) if, and to the extent, the
fair market value of the Common Stock and all other Collateral that would
otherwise remain in pledge hereunder

                                       5
<PAGE>

after such release were affected would be less than 150% of the unpaid balance
of the Note (principal and accrued interest).

         (d) In the event the securities constituting the Collateral constitute
"margin securities" (within the meaning of Section 207.2(i) of Regulation G of
the Federal Reserve Board), then the value of the Collateral securing the note
shall not be less than fifty percent (50%) of the current market value of such
securities.  Accordingly, the number of shares to be released pursuant to
paragraph 7(a) or (b) shall be reduced to the extent necessary to comply with
Regulation 0.

     8.  Events of Default.  The occurrence of one or more of the following
         -----------------
events shall constitute an event of default under this Agreement:

         (a) the failure of the Borrower to pay the principal and accrued
interest when due under the Note;

         (b) the failure of the Borrower to perform a material obligation
imposed upon the Borrower by reason of this Agreement,

         (c) the fair market value of the securities constituting the
Collateral decreases to a value that is less than an amount equal to 150% of the
outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest under the Note; or

         (d) the breach of any warranty of the Borrower contained in this
Agreement.

     Upon the occurrence of any such event of default, the Company may, at its
election, declare the Note and all other indebtedness secured hereunder to
become immediately due and payable and may exercise any or all of the rights and
remedies granted to a secured party under the provisions of the California
Uniform Commercial Code (as now or hereafter in effect), including (without
limitation) the power to dispose of the Collateral by public or private sale or
to accept the Collateral in full payment of the Note and all other indebtedness
secured hereunder.

     Any proceeds realized from the disposition of the Collateral pursuant to
the foregoing power of sale shall be applied first to the payment of reasonable
expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the disposition, then to the
payment of the Note and finally to any other indebtedness secured hereunder.
Any surplus proceeds shall be paid over to the Borrower.  However, in the event
such proceeds prove insufficient to satisfy all obligations of the Borrower
under the Note, than the Borrower shall remain personally liable for the
resulting deficiency.

     9.  Other Remedies.  The rights, powers and remedies granted to the Company
         --------------
and Borrower pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall be in addition
to all rights, powers and remedies granted to the Company and Borrower under any
statute or rule of law.  Any forbearance, failure or delay by the Company or
Borrower in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Agreement shall not
be deemed to be a waiver of such right, power or remedy.  Any single or partial
exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Agreement shall not preclude
the further exercise thereof, and every right, power and remedy of the Company
and Borrower under this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect unless
such right, power or

                                       6
<PAGE>

remedy is specifically waived by an instrument executed by the Company or
Borrower, as the case may be.

     10.  Costs and Expenses.  All reasonable costs and expenses (including
          ------------------
reasonable attorneys fees) incurred by the Company in the exercise or
enforcement of any right, power or remedy granted it under this Agreement shall
become part of the indebtedness secured hereunder and shall constitute a
personal liability of the Borrower payable immediately upon demand and bearing
interest until paid at the Company's bank interest rate then being earned by the
Company on its deposits.

     11.  Applicable Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
          --------------
accordance with the laws of the State of California and shall be binding upon
the executors, administrators, heirs and assigns of the Borrower.

     12.  Arbitration.  Any controversy between the parties hereto involving the
          -----------
construction or application of any terms, covenants or conditions of this
Agreement or the Note, or any claims arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or the Note, or the breach hereof or thereof, will be submitted to and
settled by final and binding arbitration in San Francisco, California, in
accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration then in effect, and
judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court
having jurisdiction thereof.  In the event of any arbitration under this
Agreement or the Note, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from
the losing party reasonable expenses, attorneys' fees, and costs incurred
therein or in the enforcement or collection of any judgment or award rendered
therein.  The "prevailing party" means the party determined by the arbitrator to
have most nearly prevailed, even if such party did not prevail in all matters,
not necessarily the one in whose favor a judgment is rendered.

     13.  Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement is held to be
          ------------
invalid under applicable law, then such provision shall be ineffective only to
the extent of such invalidity, and neither the remainder of such provision nor
any other provisions of this Agreement shall be affected thereby.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed by the Borrower on
this day 25th day of January, 1999.



                              Signature of Borrower:  Brenda Rhodes

                              Address:


Agreed to and Accepted by:

HALL, KINION & ASSOCIATES, INC.

                                       7
<PAGE>

By:

Title:
-----

Dated:  January 25, 1999

                                       8
<PAGE>

Dear Jon & Todd,                                                January 25, 1999


Pursuant to the loan agreement between Hall Kinion and myself dated January
25, 1999, 1 am pledging that the personal shares of Hall Kinion stock that I
hold in my account will be used for gifting purposes. In the event any shares
are sold for personal gain, all proceeds from the sale will be applied toward
my debt obligation to Hall Kinion, without written consent to the contrary.


Brenda Rhodes

                                       9