Ask HN: Is it worth taking a year off?

3 pointsthepaulthomson22d ago13 comments

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.

13 comments

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.

thepaulthomsonOP22d ago

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

gaws21d ago

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

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

turtleyacht22d ago

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

thepaulthomsonOP22d ago

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

turtleyacht22d ago

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.

1 more reply

blinkbat22d ago

How long have you worked in this field?

1 more reply

sfmz22d ago

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

blinkbat22d ago

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

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

13 comments

tim-tday22d ago

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

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

thepaulthomsonOP22d ago

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

gaws21d ago

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

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

turtleyacht22d ago

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

thepaulthomsonOP22d ago

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

turtleyacht22d ago

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.

1 more reply

blinkbat22d ago

How long have you worked in this field?

1 more reply

sfmz22d ago

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

blinkbat22d ago

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

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse