Handling Interviews After Being a Fall Guy?

bheer asks: "Salon's Since You Asked column is carrying an interesting question right now — what do you say in interviews after getting fired as a fall guy at your last job? Cary Tennis, who writes the column, admits he may not be the best person for this sort of question. So I thought I'd ask others what they thought about this. Software developers are sometimes able to get away blaming the business requirements/analysis process, but anyone with any experience in this business probably has had nightmares about being the fall guy and may even have a strategy or two up their sleeve. How would deal with being in such a crummy position?"

Comments

As he walked into the interview...

[SadGeekHermit]

...John was wearing a 500.00 suit (tasteful and practical but not flashy) and 100.00 dress shoes (ditto), simple navy blue tie and white dress shirt, he set his briefcase next to his chair, shook hands with his interviewer and introduced himself. After being invited to take a seat, he sat, relaxed, his arms carefully poised on the arm rests with his hands folded in his lap to convey the impression of openness (body language is everything to an H.R. drone).

(snip -- most of the conversation is very dull.)

H.R. Drone: So I see you worked at Acme until a month ago... I'm guessing you didn't quit, or you'd be working already. What happened there?

OPTION 1:

John: (Sighs, obviously relaxed) Well, there were some problems in a project I was working on. Things were going well on our side, but we had some issues with a vendor and we went over budget, then there was a delay, and the company decided to cut the project rather than continue trying to rescue it. Some of us were laid off in the process. The company was pretty nice to us, so I'm not complaining. We all parted on friendly terms. They said that if the project were to start back up, they'd invite me back, but I'd rather try something new. This opportunity looked pretty interesting, and I should be a good fit for it...

OPTION 2:

John: (smiles) Well, the company decided to streamline the IT department and merge some groups together, and in the process a few of the project teams got laid off. They were pretty nice about it, so there were no hard feelings. I'll miss the place; they're nice to work for. But this opportunity looks intersting, and my experience should be a good match for it...

OPTION 3:

John: (fidgets, fingers beard, glares at interviewer with his good eye) How long have you been spying on me? You work for THEM, don't you! Are you recording this? Where's the cameras??? Don't lie to me, you work for the Shop, don't you? You do, don't you? You'll never take me alive! Stay back! I have a ballpoint pen!!! Damn you, blackbird, show yourself! (backs into corner and points Bic pen at interviewer) STAY BACK!