The long-time hiring vs. training debate has been energized by an influx of new technologies requiring new skills. Today's IT departments constantly struggle to meet the skill and experience requirements of new projects, new development platforms, new languages, new environments, and new infrastructure. The advantages of hiring are that it makes it possible to immediately bring in new skills and new perspectives -- often from people who have some familiarity with the industry and may have worked with competitors. This is offset by a range of serious disadvantages.