You can have the perfect resume and a compelling cover letter and show up for the job interview ready to impress, but get ready to forgo the job offer if one of these 10 things comes into play.

1. Being late. Arriving late to a job interview is often an instant deal-breaker. Hiring managers assume that you're on your best behavior while interviewing, so if you're late, they'll assume you'll be unreliable once on the job. Always allow more time than you'll need to get to your interview, so that you have a buffer in case something goes wrong.

2. Being unprepared. Asking questions about the company that could have been answered with some basic research or not seeming familiar with the job description tells the employer that you didn't bother to do your homework.

3. Not showing enthusiasm. A job candidate who seems lackluster or unenthusiastic about the job prospect will almost certainly become an employee who isn't engaged with the work. Employers want candidates who seem committed and excited, so don't hesitate to articulate your interest in the job.

4. Being rude to the receptionist. Don't just be on your best behavior with your interviewer; make sure that you're polite to everyone you encounter. Many interviewers will ask the receptionist what they think of you. If you were rude or arrogant, that's usually a deal-breaker.

5. Sounding bitter. Job searching is tough, especially in this market, but if you let an extended period of unemployment make you bitter, then you'll turn off potential employers. It's nearly impossible to hide bitterness if you feel it, so it's crucial to find ways to have a more positive outlook.

6. Not being able to give specific examples in response to questions. If you claim that you excel at problem-solving or that you're an innovative genius and then you aren't able to give specific examples, interviewers aren't going to believe you. Make sure to come to the interview prepared with specific examples from your past that show how you've used your skills at work.

7. Claiming you have no weaknesses. You might as well wear a sign saying, "I'm not being straightforward with you." If an employer asks you about your weaker areas and you can't or won't respond with a realistic assessment of areas where you could improve, you'll appear to be lacking in insight and self-awareness. You'll also make it impossible to have a real discussion about your potential fitness for the job. A good hiring manager genuinely cares about ensuring you'll excel at the job, and having an honest discussion of your fit is a crucial part of that.

8. Answering your cell phone in the middle of the interview. If you forget to turn your phone off and it rings, that's forgivable, but answering it isn't. If your phone rings mid-interview, look mortified and apologize profusely--and then turn it off.

9. Sharing inappropriately. Resist the impulse to talk about how much you hated your old company, or the fact that you dated your boss, or your family's medical problems. Employers want to know that you understand professional boundaries and have a sense of discretion.

10. Lying about anything. However much you might wish that you could change the facts about why you left your last job or say that you finished your degree when you really didn't, lying in a hiring process is an instant deal-breaker. Employers want to hire candidates with integrity, not people who show they're willing to lie. And while you might think you won't get caught, you never know whom your employer might know who knows the truth.

Let’s face it, life can throw all you for a loop sometimes. So regardless of your current situation, you should always be prepared for the unexpected. We have all heard this before, but not often enough, do we act upon it.

Take for instance, the recent dismissal of Peyton Manning from the Colts’ roster. Who would have guessed (even after he didn’t start last year) that he might not end his career here in Indy. I sure didn’t, but that’s just it. Change happens, so deal with it (and be prepared).

Now Peyton has found himself in the same position that many IT Professionals could find themselves in one day. Fortunately, there are things you can do today to help you tomorrow.

• Keep Your Skills Current!
  • It’s great that you are a Certified SCRUM Master, but when exactly did that happen again? 1998? Well then what have you done since then to better yourself?
  • This is a question that you should always be prepared for. Hiring managers want to see that you are motivated, and eager to learn new things (even if it isn’t work related).
    • If your reading a book on Philosophy (that counts), if you are pursuing your PMP (that counts), if you are a volunteer for a disaster relief agency (that counts)
    • Clearly, taking a class on AGILE today is more relevant that learning how to surf or ski, but none the less it shows initiative.
    • The important thing is that you are getting out there, getting exposed to new things, learning new skills
• Network!
  • Now if you are taking the above bullet point seriously, this should be cake.
  • Honestly, go out and go to IndyJUG if you are a Java Developer or trying to become one. Go to PMI meetings if you are a PM. If you are happy in your current role, take the call from the recruiter at 9AM. That last one seems a bit odd right? Not really. It is always good to have a recruiter on your side, through good times and bad. You just never know when change will happen, so fielding that call could be the difference between being unemployed for 1 week or 1 year.
    • What would Peyton do without an agent?
• Don’t Burn Bridges!
  • Yes, Indy might be the 12^th largest city in the US, but still word travels fast.
  • You just never know when you might run into the same folks you worked with a decade ago, so make sure however you leave an organization, do so on good terms.
    • That "kid" in the mailroom, might be a Director in 10 years

We all will go through ups and downs in our lifetime, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be prepared. Just keep learning new things, meeting new people (taking that call from a recruiter), and building relationships with them.