Taking a break year from IT services and working on a business with a friend?
I need some advice from recruiters in IT services/IT product companies, or from people who have done something similar
Context - I'm a CS Engineer + MBA, started out as a developer, then moved on to work as a Business analyst (the kind that does requirement analysis, etc.) at an IT services company. Around 12 years of work ex. 4 years in support+dev, 8 years as a BA after my MBA (mid level BA)
I have quit my job and want to pursue a small business idea for 1-2 years (not IT/Tech related) with a friend, and if it does not work out, then the plan is to move back to IT as a BA (or any other profile). I would be an employee at my friend's company, technically speaking, and I would be the only employee. My title could be something like Marketing manager or Operations manager, whereas all my previous work experience has been as an IT Consultant/Business Analyst, etc.
Question - My concern is that since this experience would NOT be related to IT/Tech, would it pose problems for me when applying for IT jobs, because IT services companies can shortlist based on my last company's profile?
Would this experience count as a gap since it's NOT IT-related and it's just a 2-person company? And if it counts as valid experience, will it pose any problem for me?
Would HR NOT short-list me for roles if my experience is NON-IT in my last company? Because when an ATS scans my resume, or any HR manager looks at it during the shortlist phase, my last designation would be Marketing/Ops manager, not Business analyst
Note - I understand that I would be sacrificing some salary increments in this process, and I am ok with that. I am mainly concerned with being employed again