I have a side project I am really passionate about. I want to quit my current job and work on it full time. My technical/engineering/code skills are mostly focused on data science/analytics and to complete this project I will need to learn a lot about web development and product management. There is a high probability I will fail but I think I am at a good time in my career for that.<p>I have savings that I can survive on for a year. My thinking is after 6-8 months I will have an MVP or at least a prototype. Then I can reassess and if it doesn't look like I will be able to create a viable business or raise money to scale I will have to put it on pause and look for a job.<p>A part of me feels that even if I fail, future employers will look at my attempt as experience. At the same time I know not all failures are created equal, it could easily look like a way to dress up unemployment.<p>For those who failed at startups and had to get a job after, What was your experience reentering the job market?<p>Could you find roles you wouldn't have otherwise been able to get without the experience you gained going out on your own? I am not keen on going back to data science/analytics I hope that I'll be able to learn skills for web development and product management along the way.<p>How do you fail and still have something to show for it?<p>Thanks!
It doesn’t, but if you are technical, it won’t hurt either. You are simply at the same level your last job.<p>But if your goal is to start your own business without VC funding, it’s extremely valuable personally. A failed startup is better than no startup for a entrepreneur.
It counts as experience but only if it is relevant to the position you're applying to, also the optics of your project matter a lot (does it look cool or does it look like a mess).