Let's talk about something every tech company faces: do you train your current team or bring in outside experts?
Why Training Your Team Works
When you teach your team new skills, they stick around longer. Nobody wants to job-hop when they're learning cool stuff. Plus, your team already knows your systems. They can fix problems faster because they understand how everything connects.
Training takes time upfront, but it pays off. Your team becomes more independent. You stop explaining the same things to new contractors every few months.
When Outside Help Makes Sense
Sometimes you need someone right now. Maybe you're building something with a technology you'll only use once. Or you're racing to meet a deadline. That's when hiring outside experts makes perfect sense.
External teams can jump in fast. They've done similar projects before. You get speed without the long hiring process.
How to Pick the Right Option
Ask yourself: Will we need this skill for years or just months?
If it's a core part of your product, train your team. If it's a one-time thing, get outside help. Most companies do both - they train for important skills and outsource for temporary needs.
The Money Part
Training costs money upfront but saves cash later. Outside contractors charge per project, and those bills add up. Smart companies invest in teaching their team the essential skills while getting temporary help for special projects.
Making It Work
Start small. Pick one skill gap that really matters. Run a training program and see how it goes. Measure what changes - do problems get solved faster? Is the team happier?
For outside projects, make sure knowledge gets shared. When contractors leave, your team should understand what was built.
Real Example
One company trained their team on cloud systems and security. Incidents got fixed faster. They spent less on outside help over time. Another company used contractors for a product launch but trained their team to maintain it later. Both approaches worked because they matched the situation.
Bottom Line
There's no perfect answer for everyone. Train your team for skills that matter long-term. Get outside help when speed matters more than building internal knowledge.
Want to upskill your IT team? Check out training programs at opportunitynearme - they offer practical courses for working professionals.
What's your take? Do you prefer building skills in-house or bringing in experts? Drop a comment below!
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