Failed search

by a searcher from INSEAD

2 years ago

Is a failed search actually good for experience / network or is there a significant opportunity cost both financially and in terms of experience? It is a concern at a point in my career post MBA that a failed search would bring some experience but ultimately have the potential to be a wasted couple of years.

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7 comments

searcher from Stockholm School of Economics

Thanks for sharing - good points.

1 week ago | like reply | 0 likes

investor from Stanford University - Graduate School of Business

There are couple of podcasts that share stories of searchers who ended up not acquiring. I'd look up the "Acquiring Minds" and "In the Trenches" podcasts which have a couple of episodes on this topic. And to answer your question, while of course not acquiring is not the ideal outcome, many people who search tend to be incredibly capable individuals and they end up doing well regardless. Searchers who don't acquire end up doing a wide variety of things, some that come to mind immediately include: joining the c-suite at another organization, joining an investment firm, working on a startup, returning to their previous job.

4 months ago | like reply | 0 likes

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