Ask HN: Is it worth taking a year off?

[thepaulthomson]

I'd love to spend a year just experimenting with AI, building stuff, and documenting the whole thing.

My fear is it would ruin my career trajectory and I'd become un-hire-able in the future.

[tim-tday]

How would learning about cutting-edge tech ruin your career? Are you an historian?

If you’re in tech just found an LLC (legal zoom $300) call yourself founder and CEO. Declare it as stealth AI startup on LinkedIn. Even if you never release anything (unlikely) The valley loves failure so you’re fine either way.

“Founded a startup that never went anywhere” is not an uncommon story.

[thepaulthomson]

Not going to lie, that sounds so tempting.

But I guess that's the point of the original question, quitting basically puts me on an entrepreneurial path

[gaws]

> How would learning about cutting-edge tech ruin your career?

The year-long gap in his resume could be a red flag to recruiters.

[turtleyacht]

Experience is cumulative. A single year is not bad. Plus it's relevant to your work or industry.

[thepaulthomson]

I just don't know if recruiters or hiring managers would buy that. It feels like non-traditional career paths get penalized

[turtleyacht]

Benefit of the doubt is they're looking for ways to help qualify you, so education and existing experience easily overrides gaps. As always, it depends.

A year is full of distractions. Maybe better to find ways to AI in your present.

[thepaulthomson]

Totally fair

[blinkbat]

How long have you worked in this field?

[thepaulthomson]

18mths for an AI saas product

[blinkbat]

You've been in the field for 18mo and you want a year off? Come on.

[thepaulthomson]

Context, this specific field for 18mths. 2yrs in saas other areas, 7 yrs solo business (not saas)

[sfmz]

If you take a year off to orchestrate some complex-workflows with agents... I expect you'll still be hire-able, but idk.

[blinkbat]

If you can afford it and stay on top of the art, it's fine