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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?

#11

Post by shortcake27 »

legalizemoney wrote: post #6
shortcake27 wrote: post #4

My 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?

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 in finding employment in the future (we actually don’t know, because there are so many variables). In the other, the OP is likely to be dead or seriously injured (which is something we actually know). These scenarios are not comparable.

Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?

#12

Post by karim79 »

> I'll look like I'm trying to cover up a long period of unemployment on my resume

It depends on how you approach the gap in your resume. Gaps in a resume are not necessarily a bad thing. They show that you're human, and they can happen to anyone and everyone. I don't think there's any need for a cover-up here nor any justification as to why you were not perennially employed.

If you are applying for a position which is a good fit for your skill set and experience, and present yourself honestly, you should be fine.

I know people who quit great positions to start rock bands, sandwich restaurants, all kinds of things. Those side-projects can play into your hands if you approach with honesty and openness.

Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?

#13

Post by shortcake27 »

malux85 wrote: post #5
shortcake27 wrote: post #4

My 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…

I want to murder someone I’m mad at today, and I should do it because I’m ignoring hypothetical future repercussions? Yes that’s hyperbole but the point stands, delaying instant gratification on impulses, individual tactics, individual strategic and societal level is a hallmark of a stable society encouraging conscientiousness.

If you murder someone, the repercussions are not hypothetical; they are very real.

The OPs scenario is hypothetical because we cannot know effect this will have on their future employment.

You are arguing against something I never said.

Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?

#14

Post by Southfield14 »

shortcake27 wrote: post #4

My 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…

I definitely agree with this.

Though some of these other comments may suggest otherwise, there's no reason that the thing you want to do today can't also be the result of careful consideration.

Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?

#15

Post by legalizemoney »

shortcake27 wrote: post #11
legalizemoney wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe I misunderstand your comment. Do you run into the street instead of stopping to look both ways, in case of a hypothetical car?

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.

Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?

#16

Post by brailsafe »

This seems a bit neurotic and presumptuous to me. First of all, you can't control what others think of what you've factually done. Second of all, did you actually found anything or are you just taking time off to work on a side project with plans to return. Lastly, whichever it is, that's the way it is, what's to worry about? What would you do instead of working on your side project, and what would the hypothetical benefit be?

Anecdotally, I have an absolutely god awful employment record, and the market is also miserable. In previous layoffs, it's taken longer than a year to find a job regardless of what I'm doing during the down turn. I rarely even get a phone call back these days, but when I'm asked about what I'm doing now I say "I was laid off, and am taking time to work on some personal projects and find the next worthwhile company."

Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?

#18

Post by derstander »

legalizemoney wrote: post #6
shortcake27 wrote: post #4

My 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?

The original author said:

> My 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.

Even interpreting this absolutely literally, the hypothetical car would be a today problem — not a nebulous future one. “Survive the day” would, for most, seem like a present want.

Re: Ask HN: Laid off –> solo founder. Do I look like I'm trying to hide something?

#20

Post by geoduck14 »

This isn't a problem at all. I'm interviewing candidates right now and I regularly see people who: spend 6 months working on a specific project, build out a niche project, or whatever. I think the key part is that you "have something techish in your resume" for that time period.
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