Damon Lister, M.A. 2006

Associate Research Analyst,
Nielsen Media Research

The fear of an endless job search is a phobia common among students approaching graduation. While opportunities may abound, finding them is often hard.

Sometimes all a student needs is a little luck. Just ask associate research analyst Damon Lister, (06, M.A., IMC) who found his opportunity in a neighbor’s garden.

Damon was out walking when he met a woman doing yard work down his street. He introduced himself and mentioned he was graduating from Florida State with a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communication.

The friendly woman told Damon to go home and get his resume. He had “stumbled upon” a gardener who also worked for an innovative company known as Nielsen Media Research.

“I suppose the rest is history,” Damon says proudly.

While luck might have been a big part of good fortune that day, the young graduate’s resume spoke for itself.

“I had participated in the FSU Habitat for Humanity and worked as an academic mentor in the FSU Athletic Academic Support Program,” Damon says of his experience while doing graduate work.

Being a member of Florida State’s men’s club soccer team for two years and organizing social events and intramural sports for communication students gave him a well rounded background.

The Seminole, Fla. native attributes his success to the relationships he enjoyed in college and his ability to balance grades and extracurricular activities.

The resume that Damon brought back to his neighbor earned him a full-time position with Nielsen, starting just three days after graduation.

“Thanks to the faculty, especially Dr. Steven McClung and Dr. Jay Rayburn’s expert teaching and guidance, I was able to land a competitive position in a truly innovative firm,” Damon said.

Nielsen Media Research interprets and collects data from the hundreds of channels and thousands of programs that attract millions of viewers. The number of people who tune into television programming determines the ratings.

“I am responsible for production, quality assurance and the delivery of nationally based data,” Damon says. “But my job also includes the use of specific research techniques, coordinated analysis and execution and delivery of reports.”

Many of the skills needed for the job were made possible by the fundamentals he developed through FSU professors.

“The academic training that I received at the FSU College of Communication was second to none,” Damon says.

“I would put both my undergraduate and graduate degrees next to any degree from any Ivy League school, any day of the week.”