From Avoiding Bad Hires to Building Dream Teams: The JCG+T Method Explained

You don’t make a bad hire on purpose. And yet, it happens to the best-intentioned of us. Slowly at first… and then all at once.

One day, everything’s fine. Next, your new assistant is underperforming, disengaged, or quietly planning their exit. And just like that, you’re back at square one — frustrated, behind schedule, and hiring again.

Early in my recruiting career, this pattern drove me crazy. I wanted to know: How can I consistently avoid bad hires?

So I started tracking the data.

I asked clients why their last hires didn’t work out. I interviewed top Operations Managers and Executive Assistants on my podcast. I listened, took notes, and looked for patterns.

The answer wasn’t one thing. It was four.

The JCG+T Framework: What Great Hires Have in Common

While there’s no perfect hiring formula, the best hires we’ve ever placed at Pro REA Staffing have four things in common:

JCG+T = Job Fit + Culture Fit + Goal Fit + Talent

This is the foundation of how we recruit — and what we teach in our Hire LAB course. Let’s break it down.

Job Fit: Skills, Style, and Logistics

Most hiring managers focus almost entirely on this category. It includes:

• Skills and qualifications

• Prior experience

• Schedule, commute, compensation expectations

• Work style and behavioral alignment

Job Fit matters — a lot. But it’s only 25% of what makes someone a great hire.

If you’re wondering how to avoid a bad hire, don’t stop here.

Culture Fit: Values > Résumés

Culture Fit means your new hire believes what you believe.

Do they value service over ego? Do they operate with integrity and urgency? Do they communicate in a way that matches your team’s style?

You can teach systems. You can’t teach values.

But even someone who’s aligned with your values will struggle if the job doesn’t fit — or if there’s no opportunity to grow.

Goal Fit: Align with Their Why

Here’s where the magic happens.

A Goal Fit means your assistant’s personal, professional, and financial goals align with the opportunity you’re offering. You’re not just giving them a job — you’re helping them move forward in their life.

When you show a candidate that you care about their success, you’ll get buy-in, loyalty, and results that go way beyond what’s in the job description.

Talent: Where It All Comes Together

Talent is a mix of intelligence, intrinsic motivation, and energy — but here’s the key: Talent shines only when someone is in the right environment.

Even the most talented person will underperform in the wrong role. But when Job, Culture, and Goals are aligned? Their talent will show up fast — and in ways you didn’t even expect.

How to Avoid a Bad Hire (for Real This Time)

So, how do you avoid making another expensive mistake?

You slow down, define what success looks like in the role, and use JCG+T to evaluate every candidate.

Don’t just look at résumés. Look at alignment — across skills, values, goals, and raw potential.

That’s how you go from hoping a hire works out…to building a dream team that lasts.

Want to See JCG+T in Action?

Keep reading to learn about Pro REA Staffing's 5-Step interview process.

And if you’re ready to hire now, let’s talk: Schedule a call