If you haven't seen the 2009 rom-com New In Town about the city girl that moves to small-town Minnesota, I highly recommend it. From the accents and homemade sweaters, to the ice fishing and Vikings references, this movie covers all of the stereotypical Midwest bases. As the leading lady in the film learns the ropes of northern life, she also has to match her experience with a fortune 500 company to that of a local blue collar factory.
If anyone can relate to the heroine of this heart-warming tale, it's me.
In November of last year, my husband and I moved from Saint Louis, MO to Buffalo, MN. I've gone from working for a million dollar financial company, to a local metal manufacturing business. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the second job so much more, but there is a learning curve that comes with being new in town.
As much as I'd love to dive head-first into all I've been taught about marketing, I have to figure out what does and doesn't apply. Before, I was working in a corporate setting, with a larger demographic, and a larger budget. Now, I'm working in a production setting, with a demographic that hasn't been completely defined yet, in a place I hardly know. Not only do I have to build marketing research at a normal rate, I have to research the community - the place, and the people. I've definitely got my work cut out for me.
If you have any recommendations on how to acclimate into a new community or build connections, please feel free to share!
