Is searching part time a good idea?

June 11, 2025

by a searcher from Queens College in New York, NY, USA

Hi all, I'm kicking off a self-funded, part time search and I was hoping for some guidance from fellow searchers. I've seen a lot of resources out there that warn against part time searching, but I wanted to hear from real people who did it to learn from your experience on how you managed to pull it off! Keeping it general because I'm open to any and all advice, and also open to connecting with folks in the space. Thanks!

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Reply by a searcher
from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, VA, USA

If anyone is telling you that you can't do a search while keeping your day job, they're mistaken. I did it. You just have to be committed. I got up at 4:30 a.m. every day - weekends included - and worked until 7:30 when it was time to get ready to head to the office. I usually did###-###-#### hrs every evening, and I did at least one 12-hour day every weekend. It takes what it takes. If you're willing to see it through, part-time is fine.

Reply by a searcher
from New York University in San Diego, CA, USA

I searched part-time while working as a self-funded searcher. IMO, that's the best way to go if you're self-funded. Some people argue that you should quit your job and search full-time, but I think that adds way too much undo stress on a searcher to close on a deal before running out of runway. That's how searchers get deal fatigue and make bad decisions on deals they shouldn't. However, just because you're searching part-time doesn't mean that you're committing 2hrs/day. Time is against you so build out the systems to drive leverage, put in the work, and get too it. Life will only get busier once you close.

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