It's hard to overestimate the importance of the holiday season to the retail trade, especially in this economy. So, stores are gearing up and that means hiring extra help for what everyone hopes will be a Christmas rush.

"Some of our stores are still looking for help," says Larry hunt, the property manager at The Summit Shopping Center at South Virginia and the Mount Rose Highway, "but a lot of them started a month ago."

Today Maria Baruh was putting a help wanted sign in the front window of Georgiu, the women's clothing shop she manages at The Summit. In the past that sign would be aimed at seasonal workers. This position is different.

"I'm hoping it will turn into full time," she says. But at the moment it's for a part-time, 16 to 24 hour a week worker with a flexible schedule. The job, however, won't disappear with others in January.

Baruh says she's getting 4 or 5 applications a day and they aren't all the traditional seasonal job seeker looking for a short-term, second job.

"People are more desperate," she says. "They need the job just to survive."

Across the mall, Holly Evers has already hired her seasonal workers. She had plenty to pick from.

"I saw both people who don't have a job and are willing to work any shift and then some I might have to accompate a little more in their schedule."

She's added 4 or 5 for the holidays, the same sized crew she hired last year.

"Customers want holiday shopping to be a good experience," she says. "Cuitting back on customer service is not the way to go."

Those who got the jobs, she says shared one quality. "I can teach you everything you need to do in the store," she says. "I can't teach you to be nice. I can't teach enthusiasm and those are important qualities."

Good advice for those still looking: bring a good attitude.

Hunt adds it's a good idea to look for work at a store you like, one you may have shopped at. Baruh agrees. "It's important to like what you're selling."

If you’re still looking for a seasonal job, it is a good idea to start with Nevada Job Connect or online at America’s Job Connect.