Hi there,

I’m Mihai Arsene, Talent Partner and Founder at Valuable Recruitment.

I help ambitious and growing companies hire top talent across Digital Marketing, Software Development, Engineering, and more recently AI Automation and AI Agents.

I specialize in C-level and middle management recruitment for startups and scaling companies, especially those building the future with AI, automation, and digital innovation.

Whether you’re building an AI agent development team or scaling your commercial operations, I help you land the right talent faster and with better decision quality.

Over the years, I kept seeing the same hiring problem repeat itself
Great people making decisions with poor structure.

That’s why I also built Hire Like a Pro, a lightweight hiring platform designed to bring structure into the hiring process.
It helps founders and hiring managers:
Define roles clearly
Create objective scorecards
Assess candidates based on evidence, not gut feel
It’s the same methodology I’ve used for years, now available as a product.

What makes working with me different

Topgrading methodology
I streamline hiring decisions by up to 70% using Topgrading principles. Experience, competency, potential, and culture fit are assessed in a structured way. My shortlists perform.

Global reach, boutique care
Over 70 countries. Built almost entirely on referrals. Valuable Recruitment runs on long-term relationships, not volume or cold outreach.

Deep understanding of AI and tech talent needs
I spend real time understanding AI automation, LLMs, and agent development so conversations go beyond CVs and buzzwords. I stay close to the tools, roles, and trends shaping the next wave of tech.

Diverse industry roots
From pharma to BPOs to eCommerce, I’ve worked across industries and functions. That background helps me match people based on mindset, values, vision, and mission, not just experience.

Diversity and inclusion is a must-have
Great teams are built intentionally. I help companies design inclusive hiring approaches that attract strong talent across backgrounds.

If you want to recruit with more clarity, less bias, and better outcomes, we should talk.

DM me if you want to hire smarter in the AI era and beyond.

Mihai Arsene

Short rant incoming

I’ll never understand this one

A job post is written in English
The company is remote
The working language is clearly English

Yet some candidates still send CVs in their native language…
while listing “English: fluent” in a language I can’t even read.

I’m not questioning skills or experience
I’m questioning judgment!

If communication is core to the role, the application is the first signal!

Am I missing something here, or is this just poor attention to detail?

Executive Recruiter for SaaS, AI, Digital Marketing, & eComm | C-Level & Tech Talent | Topgrading Specialist | Global Reach, Boutique Service

Hiring on gut feel is expensive

I’ve seen too many founders say:
 “Something felt off… but we hired anyway”

So I built a small tool that brings structure into hiring:
- Clear role definition
- Objective scorecards
- Evidence-based interviews

The job description generator is free

 I’m opening it up to founders who are hiring and willing to give feedback.
If that’s you, drop a comment or DM me.

Before you interview anyone, you should be able to answer one thing clearly:

What does success in this role look like in 3 - 6 -  12 months from now?

Not only responsibilities

Not only traits

Actual outcomes that you can track, measure and evaluate against.

If you can’t answer that, great interviews won’t save you.

Converting DTC eCom Poverty into Profit 💰 $50M+ in Revenue | Meta, Google & Paid Ads Architect

Focused on impact & mastery.

Check my posts to find out more.

Felix Dragoi 🔥

Starting an agency is easy
That’s exactly why there are so many bad ones

Low barrier to entry means anyone can start
Little experience
No systems
No real understanding of the work

Here’s what actually separates the good from the noise:

1️⃣ Entry is cheap, competence isn’t

You can launch with almost no money

But learning fulfillment takes time and reps

Most people skip that part

2️⃣ Outreach is free, effort is not

DMs and LinkedIn cost $0

But personalization, follow ups, and patience do

That’s where most quit

3️⃣ Fulfillment is the real bottleneck

Getting a client is one thing

Keeping them and delivering results is another

That’s where agencies actually die

Agencies are easy to start
Hard to do properly

PS: I break this down fully in the new YouTube video
Link in comments 🔗

I Help eCom Brands with Paid Media 💰 $50M+ in Revenue | Meta, Google & Paid Ads Architect

Social proof isn’t a nice-to-have anymore
It’s a multiplier

Here’s how social proof stacking actually boosts ad performance 📈

1️⃣ What it is?

Layering proof instead of relying on one signal

Reviews
Testimonials
UGC
Influencer mentions

All in one flow

2️⃣ Why it works?

One review builds trust

Five different proofs build belief

People buy faster when others already validated the choice

3️⃣ How to use it in ads?

Start with a strong customer quote

Add a clear stat like 4.8⭐ from 1,000+ buyers

Finish with UGC or an influencer mention

Multiple reasons to trust

Less friction to buy

That’s how you turn attention into conversions

If someone you know is struggling with trust in ads, send this to them

Most brands obsess over ads
But the real retention engine?

Email 📧

Here’s why email beats paid ads for retention:

1️⃣ It builds real relationships

You’re not renting attention
You own the connection

Ads stop the moment you stop paying

Email keeps the conversation going

2️⃣ No Ad fatigue or rising CPM

Your email list doesn’t charge you more every send

No rising costs
No fighting the algorithm
No creatives burn out

3️⃣ It scales long term at a low cost

One strong email, sent to the right list can drive revenue for years

Not once
Not twice
But every time you show up with value

If you know a brand relying only on ads

Send this to them before they learn it the hard way

Most brands try to scale by buying more traffic
But that's the best way to have worse CAC

The smarter move? 🧠

Make every order worth more $$$

Before you touch ad budgets, 

Fix AOV

Here are 3 tools every Shopify store should be testing:

1️⃣ Upsell apps

Turn one purchase into two

Same traffic

More revenue

2️⃣ Bundling tools

Give buyers a clear reason to spend more now

Not later 

Not hoping they just click buy 2 instead of 1

3️⃣ Subscription plugins

Repeat orders without reselling every time

LTV compounds 

AOV does change everything

And CAC gets easier

If someone you know is stuck chasing more traffic,

Send them this

They’re probably pulling the wrong lever

Ad results going up one week📈
Then falling apart the next 📉

That swing usually isn’t random

It’s due to structure and strategy

Here’s what causes it:

1️⃣ Running the same strategy for too long

Same audience. Same creatives. Same angles

Eventually the algorithm runs out of fresh signals

Performance fades

New creatives and new offers aren’t optional

They’re how you extend what works

2️⃣ No real testing system

Test and pray is not a strategy

Testing is how you find stability

Different creatives
Different offers
Small controlled changes

Over time, patterns appear

3️⃣ Ignoring seasonality

Buyer behavior changes constantly

Holidays

Slow months

Economic pressure

If your ads stay static while people change, results drop

Consistency comes from adaptation

Not from forcing yesterday’s setup to work forever

If someone you know is stuck on the performance rollercoaster, send this to them

It might save their next month

Most ads try to sell the upside
However, the best ones highlight the downside 

That’s loss aversion

Here’s how to use it in ads

1️⃣ People hate losing more than winning

Losing $10 hurts more than gaining $10

Your ads should reflect that reality

2️⃣ Shift the frame

Stop saying what they’ll get

Start showing what they’ll miss if they don’t act

Missed savings
Missed results
Missed opportunity

3️⃣ Add a real deadline

Loss aversion only works when time is limited

Countdowns
Expiring offers
Limited stock

Now waiting feels expensive 💸

Good ads don’t push harder

They make inaction uncomfortable

Save this, or send it to someone still selling only the upside

Most eCom stores celebrate the first sale
Then go quiet

That’s where growth stalls

The brands that win long-term
Keep talking after checkout

Here’s how they turn one-time buyers into repeat customers:

1️⃣ Thank-you notes

Small detail
Big impact

It makes the brand feel human, not transactional

2️⃣ Product usage tips

Help them win with the product

Better results = fewer refunds + higher trust

3️⃣ Smart cross-sell recommendations

Not random offers
Only what actually makes sense next

Post-purchase isn’t extra work
It’s where LTV is built

If someone you know is stuck chasing new customers every month, send them this

You open Ads Manager
CTR is low ❌
CPC keeps rising ❌
Sales are flat ❌

And you’re wondering what you broke❓

Here’s the truth:

Your ads aren’t failing randomly

They’re telling you exactly what’s wrong

1️⃣ CTR under 1%

People aren’t stopping

Your hook isn’t strong enough to earn attention

If they don’t stop, nothing else matters

2️⃣ CPC keeps climbing

Meta doesn’t see relevance

Your message doesn’t match who’s seeing it

So you pay more for every click

3️⃣ No conversions after 3 to 5x CPA

The ad might be fine

But the offer or the page is killing momentum

Confusion, weak trust, or no clear reason to buy

Good ads get clicks

Great systems turn clicks into customers

Fix the system before you touch the budget

If this sounds like your account, send this to someone on your team

It might save you a lot of wasted spend

Most eCom brands send emails 📧
Very few actually know what to look at

If email is part of your growth plan, 

These are the numbers that matter

1️⃣ Open rate

This tells you if your subject lines deserve attention

No opens means nothing else matters

2️⃣ Click through rate

Shows if your message actually moves people

Reads are nice
Clicks pay the bills

3️⃣ Revenue per recipient

This is the truth metric

One email., one number, real impact

4️⃣ Unsubscribe rate

Spikes here mean you’re taking more than you’re giving

Value keeps lists alive

5️⃣ Bounce rate

Quietly kills deliverability

Ignore it and future emails suffer

If you’re not tracking these

You’re not optimizing
You’re guessing

And guessing is expensive 💸

If someone you know runs email on autopilot
Send this to them

Getting clicks but no real engagement❓
People scroll past your ads without reacting ❓

Here’s one simple shift that changes that

👉Start with yes questions

They’re easy to agree with

They work because agreement comes before logic

Here’s how to use them:

1️⃣ Ask questions that are impossible to say no to

“Do you want better skin?”
“Do you want more energy?”
“Would you prefer a good night’s sleep?”

Your audience answers yes before scrolling

2️⃣ Keep them effortless

No thinking required
No explaining

The faster the yes, the stronger the hook

3️⃣ Open the ad with the question

Conversation first
Offer second

It pulls people into the message naturally

When people agree mentally

They stay longer
They engage more
They click with less resistance

If your ads feel invisible

This is an easy fix worth testing

You can send this to someone running ads right now

I’ve been running ads for eCom brands for years
And honestly, most of what I thought mattered at the beginning ... doesn’t

❌ I used to obsess over the perfect ad copy
❌ The right targeting
❌ The perfect, most textbook campaign structure

All of that matters
But even when you get it right, nothing is guaranteed

So what actually moves the needle MORE

📊 Data
🔢 Numbers
🔍 Patterns

These days I spend more time in spreadsheets and calls than I ever expected

Because the brands that grow are not the ones chasing perfect creatives

They’re the ones reviewing their numbers every single week and doing something about what they see

I’ve seen brands with average creative scale to six figures because they knew their unit economics cold

And I’ve seen beautiful award worthy campaigns bleed money because no one wanted to look at the boring stuff

I’ve seen this across enough ad accounts to stop arguing with it

The hard truth is this

E-commerce success is maybe 20% creativity
And 80% showing up every Monday reviewing last week and making small disciplined adjustments

Most brands don’t fail because ads stop working
They fail because discipline does

Not sexy
But this is what separates a brand that compounds from one that slowly fades

Ever wondered why some ads get skipped instantly
And others stay in your head for days?

That difference isn’t creative talent

It’s storytelling ✍️

Here’s why story-driven ads outperform product-first ads every time

1️⃣ Products don’t stick, stories do

A product is just an object

A story gives it meaning

When you show how it fixes a real problem or changes someone’s day,

People feel it

And feeling beats features

2️⃣ Stories make people see themselves

Good ads don’t explain

They let the viewer imagine

Their life
Their routine
Their before and after

If they can picture it, they’re already halfway in

3️⃣ Stories are remembered long after the scroll

Nobody remembers feature lists

People remember moments, emotions and outcomes

That’s why story ads don’t just get clicks

They get recalled

If your ads only talk about the product, you’re leaving money on the table

Ads sell when people feel something

Stories create that feeling

Send this to someone still running feature-only ads

It might change how they think about creative forever

Most people scroll past ads on autopilot

No pause ❌
No click ❌
No chance ❌

If you want someone to stop, you need to hit something deeper than logic

Here’s what the best hooks actually do:

1️⃣ Curiosity

They don’t explain everything

They create a gap people feel forced to close

2️⃣ Emotional triggers

Fear, desire, belonging

That’s what makes thumbs stop moving

3️⃣ Clear value

Say what’s in it for them

Fast and obvious

If the hook doesn’t land

The rest of the ad never gets a chance

If this made you rethink your hooks, send it to someone still blaming the algorithm

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Felix Dragoi 🔥

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taplio

The Battle

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Felix Dragoi 🔥

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

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