Erik,
That is very true. Whenever I see ads for embedded systems, they fall into those two categories.

The first category typically goes:
RTOS (VxWorks etc), assembly and C programming (processor often not mentioned, or only specifed as 16/32-bit), DSP, Telecom and other pretty high-end stuff. Sometimes Windows CE and embedded Linux. Frequently device drivers development mentioned too. This sort of ad is also generally glamourous.

The second category mentions the uCs/uPs (mostly low-end, 8-bit stuff), desired skills on those processors (peripherals, serial communication / protocols), sometimes the application involved, and is generally oriented more towards industrial or vehicle automation etc. The ads are less glamorous, and pay is generally less too.

The first type is almost not "embedded" anymore, because the processors are 16 to 32 bit types, with plenty resources, and generally an OS to manage them. It is thus more abstracted from the hardware. Where's the fun in that?? :-))

kundi