You didn't actually answer my question about the SQL of the query, but
I'm going to guess that it does use a parameter reference to the text
box on your form.  The trouble is that, while *Access* understands such
references and can fill them in automatically, when you use DAO to open
a recordset, Access isn't really involved in the process and won't fill
in the value of that parameter.  So you have to do it yourself.  Since
you didn't post the SQL so I could see what the name of the form and
control are, I'll show you how to open a recordset in such a way that it
doesn't matter what the names are.  Try this, or something like it:

   Dim strEmployeeID As String
   Dim dtHireDate As Date
   Dim strDepartment As String
   Dim strTitle As String

   Dim db As DAO.Database
   Dim qdf As DAO.QueryDef
   Dim rs As DAO.Recordset
   Dim prm As DAO.Parameter

   Set db = Application.DBEngine(0)(0)
   Set qdf = db.QueryDefs("YourQueryName")

   For Each prm In qdf.Parameters
       prm.Value = Eval(prm.Name)
   Next prm

   Set rs = qdf.OpenRecordset

   With rs
       If .EOF Then
           MsgBox "No records in query!  Something's wrong."
       Else
           strEmployeeID = !EmployeeID
           dtHireDate = !HireDate
           strDepartment = !Department
           strTitle = !Title
       End If
       .Close
   End With

   Set rs = Nothing
   Set qdf = Nothing
   Set db = Nothing