Suffice to say, not many of us relish the prospect of writing a CV.
In fact, as far as awkward life experiences go, it's probably right up there with bumping into your ex at a wedding.
There's just something so contrived about trumpeting one's talents in clunky, third-person language.
But perhaps - in attempting to craft a stellar CV - we should concentrate on what to omit rather than what to include.
With the average employer taking just 30 seconds to scour a CV, the onus is on you to make yours as punchy and concise as possible.
Here are three common red herrings that the pros at Business Insidertext say you should strike off, to help give your CV instant oomph.
Your hobbies
"In most cases, nobody cares," says *Business Insider *careers reporter Rachel Gillett. "If it's not relevant to the job you're applying for, it's a waste of space and a waste of the company's time."
References
"If your employers want to speak to your references, they'll ask you," says Gillett.
If you write 'references upon request' at the bottom of your résumé, you're merely wasting a valuable line, notes career coach Eli Amdur.
A photo of yourself
"This may become the norm at some point in the future, but it's just weird — and tacky and distracting — to include a photo with your résumé for now," warns Gillett.
"Unless you are a TV personality or you require a headshot as part of your role, there is absolutely no reason that you should have a picture of your face," Amanda Augustine, career expert at TopResume, adds.
Read More: Looking For A Job? Don't Make This Classic Application Mistake
Read More: This One Emotional Habit Could Get Between You And Career Success