Ask HN: Is it worth taking a year off? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth taking a year off?

#11

Post by blinkbat » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 8:04 PM UTC

thepaulthomson wrote: post #7

blinkbat wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How long have you worked in this field?

18mths for an AI saas product

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

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth taking a year off?

#12

Post by sfmz » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 8:53 PM UTC

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

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth taking a year off?

#13

Post by thepaulthomson » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 10:27 PM UTC

blinkbat wrote: post #11

thepaulthomson wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

18mths for an AI saas product

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

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

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth taking a year off?

#14

Post by gaws » Sun, Apr 19, 2026, 3:20 PM UTC

tim-tday wrote: post #9

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.

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

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