With December quickly approaching, many employers are looking to hit their year-end hiring goals. If you want to take advantage of this surplus of opportunities, however, this doesn’t mean you should take a casual approach to job searching during this peak hiring season for the financial services industry.

“As the fiscal year ends, many companies are looking to spend the rest of their yearly budget through hiring,” says Jesse Blumenau, Associate at the Financial Services Division at The Execu|Search Group. “While you may think that this will give you your choice in opportunities, it really means more competition for you. With a slower workload and more time to dedicate to job searching from October through Thanksgiving, many of your peers will have the same idea as you.”

Since there are so many candidates looking for a fresh start come the new year, you’ll need to do your best to stand out from the competition to find the right job opportunity. Below are a few tips to help you navigate your job search during this peak hiring season.

Network to build connections

Building relationships are key if you want to stand out from the crowd during your job search. That’s why it’s so important to put yourself out there and attend networking events. “Networking can be a gamechanger during your job search,” says Jesse. “Not all job opportunities can be found online, and in many cases, knowing the right person can help you get your foot in the door.”

Read also: Financial Services Professionals Need To Build Their Network—But How?”

Tailor your resume for each job

Although tailoring your resume for each job you apply to is a common best practice, many candidates don’t take the time to do this and it shows.. If you truly want to stand out from the crowd, you’ll need to find a common correlation between the roles you are applying for and your own experience. Look at the key responsibilities of your dream positions and think about how you’ve developed relevant experience throughout your career. Then make sure you document this on your resume and can speak to it through your experience during the interview process.

Don’t be dissuaded by a counter offer or your upcoming bonus

While many companies are trying to hire new employees, they are also trying to retain their current staff through a variety of efforts. This could be through new perks the company is implementing or it could be through a counter offer once you get a new job. If this makes you consider staying at your organization, you’ll want to take a step back and think about why you wanted to leave your current job in the first place. In many cases, a counter offer might not even address your concerns in the long-run.  For many finance professionals, however, the year-end bonus could be the biggest deterrent to taking a new job. “Since most bonus payouts occur in Q1, you might ultimately decide to delay your job search until after you receive it. This is a concern that many employers are addressing for new hires through sign on bonuses and delayed start dates, so don’t let the anticipation of your bonus prevent you from accepting a new job during this peak hiring season!”

Read also: 3 Reasons To Prioritize Your Job Search Over Your Year-End Bonus

Work with a recruiter

Not only is this time period a peak hiring season, but it’s also a stressful time of year with the holidays quickly approaching. If you need help navigating your job search, you may want to talk to a recruiter who can help. They can help you access roles that aren’t available online, tailor your resume and provide you with interview tips and career advice. Check out our job board today and see how The Execu|Search Group can help you navigate your job search.