According to graduate recruitment website GradFutures.com, while graduates recognise 62% of the UK's top 100 graduate employers as identified by The Times, they are unable to identify 75% of the next 100 graduate employers.
Awareness of Britain's largest corporates in general is low, with graduates only able to recognise around a third (37%) of the FTSE 100.
This is despite more than three-quarters (78%) of the FTSE 100 having comprehensive graduate recruitment schemes. Moreover, graduates are unable to identify what more than three quarters (79%) of The Times' Top 100 Graduate Employers actually do.
The majority (86%) of the graduates surveyed believe the recession has greatly reduced employment opportunities, yet the research reveals they are unaware of many of the positions that are available.
The poll also revealed graduates have a perception that high-street and well-known consumer brands are the largest graduate employers. Consequently they are more likely to focus their attention on these companies when entering the job market.
Demetrios Zoppos, director at GradFutures.com, said: "Employers' recruitment strategies are failing them - many have jobs to offer, but graduates don't know what the companies do or that they even exist.
"Times are tough for graduates, but there are still plenty of opportunities out there, particularly in that crucial next 100 graduate employers. These employers have a great opportunity to choose from the cream of this year's graduates but they are not doing enough to market these positions effectively."
"Even well-known companies are failing to engage graduates. Graduates don't know what 75% of The Times 100 actually do.
"Employers cannot afford to rest on their laurels. Many of these organisations need to urgently revise their recruitment strategies if they want to engage the quality and quantity of graduates they will need to capitalise on the upturn".
