NORTH-EAST graduates can meet a number of national and international companies at a recruitment fair in the region.

The University of Sunderland is hosting an event featuring exhibitor stalls and presentations, and will provide help with writing CVs, covering letters and applications.

Hitachi Rail Europe, which is building a 730-job training building plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, and Barnard Castle-based drugs firm GlaxoSmithKline are just two of the many firms expected to attend.

Another company present will be Sunderland car maker Nissan.

The firm has a history of creating successful placements and internships, as well as employing graduates.

One of its success stories is graduate controller Amalia Pilar, who undertook a 12-month placement with the company.

A week after graduating, she had a full-time position.

The 24-year-old, who graduated with a first-class degree in Business and Human Resource (HR) Management from the University of Sunderland, said: “Undertaking a placement gives you the opportunity to put theory into practice and to pick up workplace experience.

“You have to make the most of every opportunity you get and don’t be afraid to put forward any improvement ideas you have, by using the placement year to make contacts in your field.”

The free graduate recruitment fair takes place at City Space, Chester Road, City Campus, between 10am and 2pm, on Friday, November 14.

For more information, and details on how to book a place, contact sunderland.ac.uk/futures/opportunities/graduaterecruitmentfair/