DALLAS – Two years ago, Suzanne Sprague landed a holiday job at Williams-Sonoma, the upscale kitchen accessory store. She liked the products and the employee discount, as well as the extra cash.

“I wanted spending money for Christmas and wanted to work someplace

“I could get excited about,” the Dallas law student said.

Now is the time for workers to get in gear if they’re looking for a temporary income boost or a job that lasts beyond Dec. 26.

Retailers start ramping up for the holidays after the back-to-school season, and competition for choice jobs is often intense.

That may be particularly true this year, with retail sales rebounding and unemployment rates still high.

Sprague said she began looking for her holiday job in early November but now recommends applying no later than Halloween.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says it starts start hiring seasonal workers in October.

“We want them all in place and knowledgeable about the store by mid-November,” said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sharon Weber.

Retailers rely heavily on holiday season sales, which typically make or break the bottom line.

But last year wasn’t one of the better seasons.

Sprague said she didn’t even try to find a holiday job last year because the economy was so bad.

This year, she’ll head back to Williams-Sonoma or a bookstore, she said.

Holiday retail employment should be stronger, following the lead of projected holiday sales, according to National Retail Federation spokeswoman Ellen Tolley.

The federation projects that holiday sales growth will be 5.7 percent, above last year’s dismal growth of 2.2 percent.

“Sales gains for the 2003 holiday season will be far better than the meager increases retailers experienced a year ago,” the federation’s chief economist, Rosalind Wells, said in mid-September.

Wells cited consumer confidence, low interest rates and low inflation as harbingers of growth.

She also said that consumers who benefit from the withholding tax reductions and child tax credits have increased disposable income.

Most retailers queried say they are looking for skilled salespeople and support staffs.

J.C. Penney Co. spokeswoman Rosalynn Ann Vasquez said holiday staffing needs will be the same as last year’s.

“We place more emphasis on support roles like stock replenishment and cashiers,” she added.

If it’s a place you like to shop, chances are it’s a place you’d like to work, at least for the holidays.

David Shuart, vice president of human resources for GameStop, hires a lot of gamers.

“Many of our employees are young gamers,” he said.

“We like to hire them because they have the skill sets that we can’t teach.”