Summer isn’t the only season for gaining hands-on experience and adding fodder to your resume. A spring internship could be just what you need to kick-start your career.

The spring semester is right around the corner. So, if you’re late to the spring internship search or just struggling to find a worthy opportunity, you’re not alone. According to a recent InternMatch study, 46.5 percent of students begin searching for their internship between one and three months prior to their chosen internship season.

Don’t sweat your spring internship search. An opportunity might be right under your nose. Here are a few tips to help you land an awesome internship.

1. Go virtual. Maybe you’ve been hunting for the perfect internship in your area only to come up short. No problem–there’s tons of virtual internships available out there.

Pivot your internship search to hone in on virtual internships across the country. You’ll gain valuable experience and be able to juggle a busy schedule of school and work while you manage your internship from home or a coffee shop.

2. Create an internship proposal. It may sound crazy, but have you ever considered creating your own internship? If struggling to land an internship in your small college town or a surrounding location, proposing an internship to an employer might help you get hired.

Reach out to employers with a one page summary of why they should take you on as an intern. This document is similar to a job proposal and it should explain what you can bring to the position, along with your internship goals. Don’t forget to ask for fair compensation.

3. Transform your volunteer opportunities. Are you an avid volunteer for one or a few nonprofit organizations? If so, it may be time to utilize your connections within this organization. Even if they don’t have an intern role available for you, they may know someone who does. Or, pitch your expertise for the creation of a new internship role.

4. Actually utilize your career center. Far too many college career centers go underutilized by students. If you’re struggling to land a spring internship, head over to your career center to get some advice. Their staffers are bound to have some insight into available internship opportunities, and they also have great connections.

5. Hit up your part-time job. If you currently hold a part-time position at a large corporation, consider using your connections to look for an internship within. Your position as a retail associate may be a kicking off point for a more major-specific internship position within the company.

6. Ask everyone. Current and previous co-workers, friends, family, professors, neighbors–everyone needs to know about your internship search. Getting a direct referral to an internship position can be a powerful thing, and you never know who might be your connecting point. Update everyone on the status of your spring internship hunt.

7. Set up informational interviews. Do you admire someone at a company you’re hoping to intern for? Contact them to set up an informational interview to learn more about their career.

Offer to take them out to coffee or chat with them on the phone to gain a new perspective on their position and the ups and downs they’ve experienced as a professional. You never know, this might put you in contact with a great opportunity.

Switch up your traditional internship search to make sure you don’t miss out on a great opportunity this spring!

What’s the most unique way you’ve landed an internship?

For this post, Campus to Career thanks our friends at InternMatch!

About the author: Ashley Mosley is Community Engagement Manager of InternMatch, an online platform connecting the best intern candidates and employers. Connect with Ashley and InternMatch on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.