As the spring semester wraps up, students are beginning to prepare for their summer internships and jobs. But what if you don’t have a position lined up for the next few months?

For students who have not yet secured an internship,  it might be a good idea to try applying to some last-minute opportunities for the summer.

Many companies open their application periods for the summer session during winter or early spring.

However, more competitive companies start their application process as early as fall, which might make students feel that it is impossible to find an open position at this point.

While it is a smart choice to start the job and internship search early next year, students can still find something for this summer — that is, if they are willing to put in the effort of finding an opportunity.

Small and medium companies, as well as startups, tend to post their opportunities later in the year, which means that they might still be looking for interns or full-time employees, according to an article from Monster.com.

Students should scroll around the websites of these types of companies to see if any positions are still open.

It is even better to be proactive by calling the companies and asking if they are looking to add any more people to their summer team.

Calling companies shows your dedication, but it’s not the only way to reach out to organizations. Reaching out to connections on LinkedIn can also be an effective way to find out about vacant positions in your field.

Students should not be afraid to connect with more distant people in their social network to learn about more opportunities.

But finding the opportunity is only part of the battle. Afterward, students have to craft a resume and cover letter that not only sell them as qualified, but are tailored to the specific position in the company that they are applying to.

“Recruiters and hiring managers can tell within 10 seconds if you’ve sent a generic application,” the Monster.com article states.

The best way to remedy a generic application is to use key phrases from the job description in your resume and mention the company in your cover letter, so the employers can tell that you not only did your research, but also created your application just for them.

It is also very important to proofread your cover letter, resume and application. Nothing is more disqualifying than lacking the competency or patience to read over your own work.

If all else fails and you still cannot seem to find any available internships or professional work that you would be interested in, try applying to work at a local summer camp.

You will be making some money and it could be called a “learning experience” on your resume for when you apply early to internships next year.

It is important to show your future employers that you are always motivated.