The recent tragic death of a young professional has set the industry abuzz—and rightly so. The working conditions some young professionals face can only be described as inhumane. Every pressure must be put on employers to protect the mental health of their employees. That said, we all know this is not an ideal world, and we cannot control others. Let me offer another, more practical perspective: employees must choose the right employer.

That is the crux of the matter. You vet every other person in your life; why not employers too?

From what I have seen, young people today can be a bit naive when it comes to choosing jobs-or even setting priorities, for that matter. I observe them chasing after money, lifestyle, or fixating on MNCs and corporate jobs without fully understanding the costs involved. Perhaps they overestimate what they will gain and underestimate what they will have to give, much like older generations did with government jobs. This is not to say that either path is inherently bad; of course not. What I mean is that there are pros and cons to everything, and it’s crucial to be aware of them. It’s easy to get swayed by big names and the supposed benefits of working in such organizations, but let’s use common sense: the bigger the pool, the smaller you will be, and the less you will matter. How could it be otherwise?

Big paychecks early in your career—when you are new and inexperienced—are not without cost. You haven’t, strictly speaking, earned them yet. Rest assured, you will pay for them one way or another—with health, time, relationships, peace of mind, and privacy. This may sound harsh, but it’s just simple logic. After all, businesses exist to make profits; that is their mission and responsibility to their shareholders. In a startup, you may face a different kind of choice, but it will still be a choice. Bottom line: you can’t have everything.

Speaking for myself, I chose quality of life over wealth and security. That choice has guided my journey. It’s the reason I started my own company instead of pursuing a corporate job or opportunities in the Gulf. It’s why I didn’t seek VC funding and why I returned to Kerala. Its why Wrench is what it is today, and I am who I am. Don’t be fooled—the prosperity you see today is just the latest chapter in my story; much of that story is filled with hard work and struggle. But I’m not complaining. I made my choice with my eyes wide open, accepted the price, and now it has paid off.

So, what I’m saying is: choose your goals carefully and your employer even more so. Consider the pros and cons. Be aware of the kind of organization you’re entering. Reflect on its values and whether they align with yours. Know yourself-what you want, what you can do, and what you can and cannot handle. Understand the trade-offs you will have to make, because there will always be trade-offs. Don’t just follow what someone else is doing. And remember-you can’t have everything.