Your CV has just one purpose in life - to get you an interview. This means that the information it contains needs to be presented in such a way that it directly addresses the specific requirements of the job you are applying for and convinces the employer that you are a strong candidate for the job.

With around 70 applications for every position requiring 12-months post-graduation experience and as many as 300 experienced legal professionals applying for more senior roles, competition for roles is intense. And given that many employers - especially large firms and businesses - will take as little as half a minute scanning your CV, you need to make sure that yours stands out from the crowd.

So when it comes to writing your CV you need to focus on your achievements, the moments in your career when the limelight has shone on you - the times when you have gone beyond the remit of your job description and outperformed those around you.

For example, perhaps you:

• Have the highest billing figures or billable hours in your department or firm
• Have a successfully built up a reputation for maximising referrals
• Oversaw/managed successful growth which earned your company a pretty package
• Have a good track record in identifying new business development opportunities have any of your cases been reported?
• What type of clients do you act for?

Address the key skills that the employer is seeking in their ideal candidate, but avoid simply listing them. For instance, if the job description ask for 'Demonstrable technical ability' or 'Good analytical skills' you need to demonstrate how you have used these - maybe you wrote a key research paper on employment law, or successfully concluded a high value or high profile case in the absence of a partner.

Consider who your audience is. Your CV is often vetted first by someone in the company's human resources department who may be unfamiliar with some of the legal jargon used in your profession. So make sure the language you use isn't too technical and ensure your CV is clear, concise and easy to read.

Although you may be the best candidate for the job, if your CV is not presented in the right way, highlighting your key skills your chances of being invited to interview will be slim at best. Our consultants can help you get it right.