[twistedcheeslet]

Your friends did whatever was needed to pass the interview. You did not.

How is it surprising that they're the ones getting raises? Clearly they're willing to risk more than you are for the reward.

Only getting caught cheating guarantees loss.

Playing fair does not guarantee winning.

[emddudley]

What a corrupt way to view the world.

[Invictus0]

Wait till you see how the business people you're working for see the world!

[randomopining]

If the companies wanted a fair interview they would ask questions and have a discussion that only a skilled engineer with real world experience could have.

[scarface74]

Is it not a true representation?

[davemp]

Person adept at exploiting one human process (interviews) is good at exploiting another human process (performance reviews / promotions).

Calling it “risk taking” seems overly reductive.

[Miner49er]

How is cheating risky? You get caught, you don't get the job. End of story.

On the other hand, not cheating means it will be harder to get the job. This seems to be the riskier strategy (but, I'd argue, has the greater reward.)