Ask HN: Is it worth taking a year off?

#1

Post by thepaulthomson » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 3:33 PM UTC

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.

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

#2

Post by turtleyacht » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 3:36 PM UTC

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

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

#3

Post by thepaulthomson » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 3:39 PM UTC

turtleyacht wrote: post #2

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

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

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

#4

Post by blinkbat » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 3:40 PM UTC

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

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

#5

Post by blinkbat » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 3:41 PM UTC

thepaulthomson wrote: post #3

turtleyacht wrote: post #2

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

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

How long have you worked in this field?

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

#6

Post by turtleyacht » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 3:45 PM UTC

thepaulthomson wrote: post #3

turtleyacht wrote: post #2

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

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

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.

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

#7

Post by thepaulthomson » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 3:46 PM UTC

blinkbat wrote: post #5

thepaulthomson wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

How long have you worked in this field?

18mths for an AI saas product

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

#8

Post by thepaulthomson » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 4:36 PM UTC

turtleyacht wrote: post #6

thepaulthomson wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

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.

Totally fair

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

#9

Post by tim-tday » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 4:53 PM UTC

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.

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

#10

Post by thepaulthomson » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 5:31 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.

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