I assume you are working on a side (now full-time) project in order to accomplish a specific goal. Perhaps it is to make money. Wouldn't it be better to be optimistic and focus on it being successful? Thus not needing to look for a job in the future?
Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?
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Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?
#32Build something more impressive than you would work on while employed and it’s probably a plus. Following your interests (if you have the privilege to do so) can result in some really cool / impressive work to show off later.
Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?
#33My philosophy is that you should do what you want to do today, instead of doing something you don’t want to do because of a hypothetical future repercussion. Could this harm future employability? Maybe. But what’s the alternative, work a job you don’t want to maybe have a better chance of working another job you also don’t want in the future? Personally, that’s not the way I’d like to conduct my life. Opinions differ…
Maybe I misunderstand your comment. Do you run into the street instead of stopping to look both ways, in case of a hypothetical car?
As clever as your comment is, the consequences of not looking before running into the street are very immediate and very high. The consequences of the situation being discussed won’t be felt for at least a year (the runway the OP has with their severance), are hypothetical, and probably not that severe.
A lot can change in a year. There’s a lot of jobs. The OP can probably get one of them. Some employers won’t care at all about what the OP thinks they might care about.
Your risk tolerance may vary but I’m not going to do something I don’t want to do for a year because of what someone I’ve never met before might think a year or more from now.
Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?
#34No, you should be fine. I had my startup on my resume for a bit and it didn’t seemed to hurt my chances.
Some interviewers asked me technical questions about the tech stack. Others were interested in business side of things, it was a good conversation starter.
Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?
#35My philosophy is that you should do what you want to do today, instead of doing something you don’t want to do because of a hypothetical future repercussion. Could this harm future employability? Maybe. But what’s the alternative, work a job you don’t want to maybe have a better chance of working another job you also don’t want in the future? Personally, that’s not the way I’d like to conduct my life. Opinions differ…
A bird in the hand is two in the bush
Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?
#36If you've been working for a while, then take advantage of your situation and collect unemployment. Then a month before you know it's going to run out, you can apply for jobs. You have a lot of cometition so it may take time. But if you 'have a lot saved' mixed with unemployment, then take it easy for a few months.
Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?
#37You look like you're trying to take control of your own income destiny instead of relying on some company who treats you as an expense.
Don't worry if it doesn't work out, 80% of small businesses fail within a year.
If you're looking for work later, just say you tried to start your own company. That's not a red flag on a resume (probably quite the opposite).
Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?
#38As someone who hires people -- If your resume says "Company A 2020-2023, Project Blah, 2023-X" I'll ask you to tell me about the project. If you have something to show for it, then I see no problem. If I say what's Project Blah and you don't have anything to talk about or to show for it then I have questions.
I have a friend right now who left Amazon and they are working on a side project. It's actually a great resume booster for them, exploring some new tech, owning product decisions, if anything, it shows they "understand".
Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
Cars aren’t hypothetical. They’re real. You are deliberately misunderstanding and exaggerating my point to prove, well, I don’t even know what you’re trying to prove. First, my point is about optimising for happiness. Running out onto a road without thinking has nothing to do with happiness. Secondly, the risk profile between these two scenarios is completely different. In one, the OP _might_ have a slight difficulty…
I meant it earnestly! If I misunderstood, I have one other guy in here who made the same mistake. Your original comment reads like you’re against the concept of considering unpleasant counterfactuals in general.
Fair point, apologies I took your comment the wrong way. As the sibling of this comment mentions, that wasn’t what I meant, but can see how my original comment left room for interpretation.
Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?
#40if you have friends in the industry, and they can make referrals, you'll be fine. Just explain it well. Many people understand the desire to do your own project. Or just "i had the money to take a year off, and i loved every minute of it"