Even with the state's bleak 9.1 unemployment rate, retailers gearing up for the holiday selling season — from Christmas tree purveyors to athletic gear retailers — say they still have jobs to fill. 

There still seasonal jobs to be had. Big chains like Toys 'R Us, with locations in Toms River, need people to stock shelves, work the overnight, help on the salesfloor and ring up customers at all those doorbuster sales. Verizon in Toms River also has a posting for a retail sales associate. Macy's also has a seasonal job opening posted. It's one of the listings in the Jobs section of Toms River Patch.

Help wanted, later. 

If you're an active job seeker, you know the simple question, "Are you hiring?" isn't always met with a straightforward answer. Often a standard response is, "We're accepting applications." This could mean that yours will go into a file to be held for a year in case a need comes up. That's the case at Big Lots, as well as Marshalls, where applications are being held for after the New Year when new inventory comes in.

Apply in your jammies, interview in a tie

The majority of chain businesses want potential employees to apply online. One way to streamline your application process is to visit, Snagajob, an online job source for hourly and part-time workers, brings many of those applications right to your home office. It also gives you the chance to create an employee profile, as well as get job alerts from area businesses.

Snagajob also offers some handy dandy tips about how to make yourself marketable, like changing your email address from slacker@stateU to just your name. The site even offers you a script for your follow-up call to the business.