All the hassle of updating your resume, filling out application after application, preparing answers to countless interviews and, inevitably, fretting for days after those interviews may be becoming more commonplace.

In May alone, the United States work force was cut by 49,000 jobs — bringing the unemployment toll to 5.5 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That means the total number of unemployed Americans is about 8.5 million.

However, according to Career Center Director Carol Schroeder, college students preparing to enter the workforce don’t have reason to worry  — yet.

“Although the job market has experienced some significant downturn, the rate of college hiring has just started its slowdown,” she said, echoing a sentiment from her annual report.

N.C. State has seen more employers visiting campus in search of potential employees this year than last year, Schroeder said. More employees have also been posting jobs on ePack, the Career Center’s job listing service.

It’s a trend might not last much longer. In an attempt to save money, employers who are cutting jobs are also hiring fewer, if any, new employees.

“So far, it hasn’t happened,” she said. “But I would wager that it’s going in the direction of professionals.”

As college hiring turns the way of the professional job slump, Schroeder said students “would be wise to think about how to protect themselves from what is surely going to trickle down to the college hiring market.”

Low job availability for college students and graduates doesn’t indicate economic downturn, she said. Sometimes it just means companies have been bought or sold out.

“But it still means a loss of jobs,” Schroeder said.

Rising fuel costs have negatively affected business in retail, food and hospitality services, which are “already seeing a downturn” in profits, according to Schroeder.

“Retailers are falling all over themselves trying to get their customers to buy their products,” Schroeder said. “What do you think that’s going to mean for a large retail store trying to hire managers?”

Although students might not need to fret about finding a job now, Schroeder said they should be prepared to be the “best person for the job” so they can get hired.

“Don’t panic, but be very prepared,” she said. “Even in the depression, employers were complaining they couldn’t find good people. Maybe they were trying to pay a penny a day.”

In a June 7 speech, President Bush said the government’s $168 billion stimulus package, which includes last month’s tax rebate checks, might prove effective.

“We’re beginning to see signs that the stimulus may be working,” he said.