Students looking for work in DeKalb over break may be out of luck.

Although businesses in DeKalb tend to lose student workers who go home for winter break, many are already sufficiently staffed with their current number of employees.

Students who do not work during the school semester will find that many businesses usually have enough students who stay on campus over break to fulfill their employment needs.

With fewer people on campus, area stores and restaurants shorten their hours during break because business is typically slower.

Shelley’s restaurant, 901 Lucinda Ave., is not hiring. Lisa Cannella, a cashier at Shelley’s, said the managers typically work over break and some employees will work just a few days a week.

“Everybody goes home,” Cannella said.

The University Bookstore, located in the Holmes Student Center, isn’t hiring either. Store manager Don Turk said they are not as busy, so they don’t need the extra help. The bookstore closes Dec. 22 and reopens Jan 2. Turk said they usually will not start hiring until early January for the book rush.

“[We] don’t lose students who work all semester,” Turk said.

Enough students do stay in town over break to fulfill needed work.

“We draw from existing employees to work over break,” said Benjamin Thomas, program service aide for Housing and Dining.

According to Jodi Wolff, a manager at Barnes & Noble, 2439 Sycamore Road, seasonal hiring is finished before Thanksgiving in order to get training completed before it gets busy.

“We do lose a good handful [of employees,]” Wolff said. “But existing staff availability opens.”

At some other stores like Best Buy, 2074 Sycamore Road, employees usually will not leave over break. Because Best Buy has finished hiring for the season, they do not expect to start hiring again until February or March, said Liz Smith, operations coordinator at Best Buy.

Students not only have to compete with other university students staying over break, but also with high school students looking for retail work.

With no malls and few other retail centers located in DeKalb, competition can be fierce.

Payless Shoe Source, 2350 Sycamore Road, is looking to fill a few positions. However, store associate Jacklyn Williams said many of applicants are from NIU and local high school students.

With so many student workers, Williams said people will only work for about 4-6 months because many of students graduating or becoming teaching assistants at NIU.