The recession and lack of jobs has put pressure on businesses and recruitment firms alike, it has been claimed.
According to TalentPuzzle, employers now have to sift through even more job applications and resumes than normal due to the increased number of potential workers.
However, many of these CVs do not meet firms' expectations and represent a waste of time for HR personnel.
Research from the firm has revealed that many employers wish to spend less time dealing with applications, although smaller businesses struggle to do this due to the costs involved in dealing with recruitment firms.
TalentPuzzle chief executive officer Virginia Raemy explained that the issue is particularly problematic for firms at the lower end of the turnover scale.
"The smaller the business, the less power they have to negotiate fees," she said.
Ms Raemy added that while some employers can get fees of between ten and 15 per cent, "a smaller company that wants to look for the same position ... will probably have to pay between 20 and 30 per cent".
