Joseph Morin started a thread named SEM Hiring 101. In that thread he links to an Internet Retailer article named Searching for Searchers by Mark Brohan. The article basically describes how its hard for in-house marketers to find SEMs.
Forum Editor, Elisabeth, says that this is because most of these companies are not willing to pay the salaries required to hire top talent. However, some argue that the salaries are fair.
Should make for a nice thread if your an SEM working for a larger company.