International students in U.S. higher education who pursue work must balance personal and professional pressures while seeking employment. While much attention has been given to their experiences of acculturation, stress, and psychological well being, further work is needed to document their personal growth, navigation of economic pressures, and experiences of seeking employment. This phenomenological study utilized semi-structured interviews to explore international students' experiences of personal growth and change, economic pressures, and seeking employment in the US. The results indicate that international students share many experiences of personal change with their domestic counterparts. Yet they are simultaneously navigating a new cultural context, dealing with economic pressure, and navigating barriers to their employment search. These barriers are rooted in the lack of clear information, misaligned support resources, personal shortcomings, employer perceptions, and visa restrictions.