Nielsen
Nielsen is the leading company that measures radio, TV, and digital media audiences. When someone mentions Nielsen in their resume in a broadcasting context, they're typically referring to working with Nielsen ratings or data. These ratings show how many people listen to radio stations or watch TV shows, which is crucial for selling advertising. It's like a counting system that tells media companies who's watching or listening to what. Other companies that do similar work include Arbitron (which Nielsen actually bought in 2012) and Comscore. When reading resumes, you might see references to "Nielsen ratings," "Nielsen data," or "Nielsen tools."
Examples in Resumes
Increased advertising revenue by 30% using Nielsen ratings data to target prime listening hours
Analyzed Nielsen reports to develop successful programming strategies
Created sales presentations using Nielsen audience metrics
Managed station performance tracking through Nielsen ratings and Nielsen Audio reports
Typical job title: "Radio Research Analysts"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Radio Research Analysts
Professional Networks
Industry Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you use Nielsen data to increase station revenue?
Expected Answer: A strong answer should include understanding of demographic targeting, daypart optimization, and how to present ratings data to advertisers to justify ad rates.
Q: Describe a time when you used Nielsen data to make a major programming decision.
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate ability to analyze audience trends, understand competition, and make strategic decisions based on ratings data.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What are the key metrics in a Nielsen radio report?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain AQH (Average Quarter Hour), cume (total unique listeners), TSL (Time Spent Listening), and share in simple terms.
Q: How do you explain Nielsen ratings to clients or salespeople?
Expected Answer: Should show ability to translate complex ratings data into simple, actionable insights for non-technical audiences.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is a Nielsen rating point?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that one ratings point represents a percentage of the total potential audience in a market.
Q: How are Nielsen ratings collected?
Expected Answer: Should understand basic methods like PPM (Portable People Meter) and diary systems used to collect listening data.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of ratings reports
- Data entry and basic analysis
- Creating simple presentations with ratings data
- Understanding of radio dayparts
Mid (2-5 years)
- Detailed ratings analysis
- Competitor analysis
- Sales proposal creation
- Understanding of demographic targeting
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic planning using ratings data
- Revenue optimization
- Training team members on ratings analysis
- Advanced market analysis
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic radio ratings terminology
- Unable to interpret simple ratings reports
- Lack of experience with media research tools
- No knowledge of broadcasting industry standards
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