Firsts and 2:1s are unfairly used to benchmark graduates when they apply for jobs.

It is claimed those with anything less than a 2:1 face an uphill struggle to be called for interview as employers look at grades first when choosing potential candidates.

The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) reveals the findings in its Winter Review 2008, claiming employers will discard graduates with lesser qualifications.

It adds this is causing a recruitment shortfall as graduates without a first or 2:1 are ideal candidates for the jobs available, but they are being automatically discarded.

Elspeth Farrar, of the AGCAS, claims companies are placing unrealistic demands on graduates. She said: “There has been a major shift in what companies expect graduates to come out of university with and how prepared [for work] they expect them to be. In the past, employers were more prepared to take the time to train new workers themselves, but the assumption increasingly seems to be that this is the responsibility of universities.

"It seems now that companies are expecting students to come out of university work ready.”