Career after failed search?

searcher profile

June 12, 2023

by a searcher from Georgetown University - The McDonough School of Business in Washington, DC, USA

Hi all, i was contemplating traditional search but I am fearful that if I look for 2 years for a company (and I end up not finding one and closing my fund) that my career will suffer. Is it possible to get jobs after a failed search? Is 'searching' valuable to an employer, or would it essentially be a waste of 2 years if I dont find a company?

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commentor profile
Reply by an investor
from Trinity University in Chicago, IL, USA
Highly recommend reading AJ Wassersteins note On the Nature of a Search Fund Not Working Out as Planned: https://yale.app.box.com/s/dadba48kb1crl4dzt0s793lpoovweewm

Anecdotally -- throughout the search, hundreds of new connections are made. Searchers seem to often get job offers from prospective sellers, or other individuals they meet along the way. There are usually prospects to circle back to following a "failed search."
commentor profile
Reply by an intermediary
from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Framing will be very important. The corporate execs will want to confirm that you are no longer wanting to go off and own your own company, but now want to be in the corporate world (i.e., you'll need to put to bed the concern that you are still searching on your off time, and will leave them as soon as you find something). Particularly if they have to invest in lengthy training/getting to your break-even point.
commentor profile
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