These are just some of the phrases culled from a recent job posting list. About eight out of ten technical job listings I see contain requirements like:

• Qualified candidates need to be flexible and willing to work in a fast-paced environment with short release cycles
• Ability to work in fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work under tight time constraints with changing requirements
• Experience working in a start-up environment will be extremely useful
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, small company environment
• Ability to work under pressure and to handle and resolve reoccurring problems (this for an entry-level QA engineer!)
• Self-motivated, with a demonstrated ability to create aggressive but realistic schedules, and meet them
• Ability to effectively multi-task in a high-activity, high-performance atmosphere
• must have the ability to work simultaneously on several projects and adapt to changes (this for a Junior Application Engineer!)
• ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast paced, startup environment
• Demonstrable problem solving skills—ability to solve complex problems in the face of time pressure & information/resource constraints (I predict a test- or puzzle-based interview...)
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast paced, startup environment.