[A. Pole]

As for the alleged dearth of high-paying jobs for recent graduates, my father-in-law says it's extremely difficult for his small architectural/engineering firm to find qualified new hires for less than $100,000 a year.

What exactly are his requirements? Can you list them?

[riverdawg]

"What exactly are his requirements? Can you list them?"

No, you'd have to ask him and he's not a FReeper, as far as I know. But he is the partner in charge of setting compensation for all of the employees (partners and associates) in the firm, so I assume he has a very good idea about the going rate for recent graduates. I have heard him question the work ethic of several of their recent hires. The senior partners are now in their early to mid 60's and still work 55-60 hours a week. They have a hard time getting the young guys to put in an honest 40 hours per week, even at $100,000+. The senior partners want to groom the next generation of partners from the existing associates, but there are apparently no obvious candidates.