I’m in the last year of my undergraduate education, which means two things: 1) Sitting through lectures without playing The New York Times games has become increasingly difficult and 2) I’m constantly thinking about securing a full-time job post graduation.

So far, my approach to applying for entry-level positions has been to keep my options open. I’m fairly willing to explore different industries, and I know I can’t have too high of expectations for my starting salary. But after interning at two major media conglomerates, I’m considering another factor in the job search: company ethics. 

I accepted early on in my tenure as a lowly intern that I am one of the smallest cogs in the billion-dollar machine owned by white, male executives. I make silly social media content, pull media clips and report directly to my intern supervisor; I’m not exactly sitting in on C-suite meetings. To be frank — and at the cost of downplaying my work experience — I hold little to no stake or power in the moral and political decisions of the corporation.

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If it sounds like I’m reassuring myself, it’s probably because I am. 

I want to believe (for my own peace of mind) that I am so far removed from company leadership that I have zero association with these executives who perpetuate harmful, right-wing rhetoric or are politically influenced by questionable stakeholders. Also, despite what capitalism may tell you, I believe that you are more than just an extension of the company you work for. 

But as the looming threat of post-grad life steadily approaches, the cognitive dissonance I’m experiencing gives me pause. I pride myself on having strong values and sticking to my beliefs. I don’t want to reach a point where I have to compromise my morals for an impressive LinkedIn update. 

Many fellow Gen Zers entering the workforce seem to share a similar sentiment. Research by Deloitte and NEW found that 77% of Gen Z respondents said it was vital that their values align with the company they work for. 

To a certain extent, however, it may be a privilege to be able to pass on lucrative career opportunities. If you’re early in your career and don’t have the luxury of having a financial safety net from your parents, it’s understandable that your priority would be getting your foot in the door and making a living. This may explain why a different study by Blue Beyond Consulting found that only around half of survey respondents said they would actually quit their jobs due to a misalignment in values.

One USC student — who spoke under the condition of anonymity due to concerns over company retaliation — interned at a “Big Four” bank this past summer. They said morals weren’t a “huge consideration” when they were in the recruitment process. 

“Especially given the state of the economy right now, I think it’s really important to … cast your net wide and apply for as many different positions as possible,” the student said. “I don’t think that the company’s values or ethics are necessarily the top priority for me to consider.”

Where do you draw the line, though? The implications of absolving yourself from any responsibility at all are concerning. You can’t simply ignore the fact that the work you’re doing 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. is intended to serve the best interests of your company — even if those interests are downright unethical. 

Take defense contractors like Lockheed Martin. Lockheed, which aggressively recruits on college campuses (especially historically Black colleges and universities), is the world’s largest arms manufacturer, producing weapons responsible for several massacres overseas. In that case, I’m unsure how you would be able to separate your engineering work from its tangible impact.

It seems like employees are also unsure — or they simply don’t care. Howard University students protested against a Lockheed campus recruitment event, asking a recruiter how the CEO is an “advocate for women and minorities” when she heads a company that produces weapons that kill women and children in the Middle East. The recruiter’s response? “I have no idea.”

Of course, it’s up to each individual person to pick and choose their battles when it comes to balancing morals and their career on a case-by-case basis, but succumbing to apathy is dangerous. I don’t want to “have no idea” what my bosses may be perpetuating. 

It’s important to identify and sort your priorities and be OK with the fact that those will likely change across different stages of your life. Perhaps your priority now as an early 20-something is just paying the bills and stacking up your resume before being able to pivot to a more ideal role you’re truly passionate about. 

But don’t be like that Lockheed recruiter — actually learn about the social impact of the company you work for so you’re at least aware and can decide what you are and aren’t aligned with. Sure, you may be a cog in the machine, but you’re a cog with free will and agency over your moral decisions.