I’ll start it off.
Life has been 1000 percent better since moving on this year. Always realized how toxic the environment had become there while still employed with the company, but once gone I then realized how much MORE I was putting up with just to get through my day, and how sketchy everyone there had become.
Since leaving I’ve felt like a new person, so what about you? How has leaving the company affected your day to day?
No one is happy to get laid off. I wasn't. But the very next day, I woke up knowing I had to get a job, but I had a peace knowing that the Nielsen drama was behind me. Fast forward a few months, I now have a new job with better pay. Thank you Nielsen! Thank you, Elliot! Thank you, McKinsey!
I learned that I needed to do more - much more - than the passive job searching I had been doing while employed. In the end, getting severanced was a blessing, not a curse.
Now, it's time to watch it all burn.
I left a little over 9 years ago. Was in a high-level engineering position and now work for one of the largest companies in the world with more than triple the total compensation and way better benefits.
I keep telling people to get out while you can and don't subject yourself to the toxic BS in hopes of a getting a severance. Get out on your own terms and you will be way better off mentally and financially.
Honestly it was nice to have the summer break however I had refused any help they offered out of spite. I’m a bit traumatized having to start over at my age and I forever curse Nielsen for doing this to so many of us!!! I’ve had several interviews and a few offers but none of which are more than I was making. I FU--ING HATE THIS!!!
I was honestly sad leaving because I enjoyed my job and my coworkers but I wasn’t going to fool myself into believing things were going to be okay if I stuck around. I found a job and left on my terms. I nearly doubled my income and working for a company with better health insurance. A win-win. Keep your head up and keep grinding. Don’t lie to yourself. Its time to move on.
"Field Rep here. I'm actively looking for a job that my current skillset can somewhat translate to, but a Nielsen Field Rep means cable company or a field sales job"
Cable / telecom companies across the board are reducing large portions of their field technicians too, so unless you're highly experienced in network distribution maintenance you really wouldn't stand a chance of getting in, for anything worthwhile at least.
Those types of positions are also being taken by existing in-house staff as the telecom world is in the middle of large reorgs and reductions due to streaming and AI, so not a lot of opportunity for entry unless your desire is to take an abusive position at the bottom of the barrel that no-one else wants.
On this end life has been great post Nielsen. A lot of descent job prospects coming in, with a few now and then that are ultra low paying @ $12 - $14 hr that you have to laugh at. The rest are all solid positions, with a few showing up each week now and interviews scheduled.
Field Rep here. I'm actively looking for a job that my current skillset can somewhat translate to, but a Nielsen Field Rep means cable company or a field sales job, and I don't want to go into either of those. It's really tough, and I'm not going into more debt by going back to get another degree, or 1-2 year certification program. That's my last choice.
It's very easy to develop some kind of Stockholm syndrome at Nielsen (almost no work, WFH, unlimited PTO, etc) but you won't realize how toxic of an environment it is until you leave and find yourself working somewhere else.
I made the leap a few months ago and I couldn't be happier, I even was able to find a job that pays more while being a lot more interesting. More and more Nielsen is being handled to mo--ns and it would be very very difficult to work with them.
I realized how toxic my environment at Nielsen was. Have less stress in that respect, but still looking for work. The job market is tough right now and I've been targeting very specific companies and roles and not just taking the 'spray and pray' approach by submitting 100's of applications per week, but I may have to start doing that and forget about trying to find a job with a company that I can fully support and feel good about. Not having an income that supports the basic necessities in life is demoralizing and hard. Being older, it makes it harder to get employment - ageism is real.
I was laid off from Nielsen in the second half or 2023. It was hard to find a job since it's a competitive job market. I really worked hard to prepare for the multiple interviews required for a job. It's a roller coaster ride waiting for the responses to job applications, so I found what worked for me was to apply to a lot of jobs every day. Once I stepped up my game, studied, got some certifications, and got practice at interviewing, I got multiple offers and landed a job. I love my job now! The hours are reasonable and I'm getting paid 30% more. I was at Nielsen for a long time and remember the fun times 20+ years ago. I did gain some good skills there so that was useful in my interviews. As far as work, most places are likely better than working at Nielsen, but you won't find a job as easily as in the past, and are going to have to take the time and prepare well.
I was at Nielsen for 25 years and was let go with an 11 minute conference call.
Fast forward to today: I have a higher-paying job with more flexibility. My manager is focused on what's best for the company, and I no longer feel like I'm at risk of being let go every month. Everything happens for a reason, and we must embrace new beginnings as karma will always do what it's supposed to do. Good luck to everyone.
I’m making more money, more flexibility, stress free environment. Nielsen did me a favor Lol.
I listened to advice here. I got another remote job and worked both. I paid off my car and other debts. I am much happier at my new job. I come on here way too often though to see how everyone left is doing. I was at Nielsen for so long, it was very hard to let go of, but ultimately I’m glad I did.
Good to hear. Life post Nielsen will be better. Do the basics - grieve, especially if you’ve had a long career there; remind yourself that it’s the role that’s been eliminated, not you; connect with others. The alumni is large and helpful - if you want similar work, follow other media/ panel companies. Take care of yourself.
I love it. Sure I took a pay cut for a new job but the people are sane and actually do work instead of just talking about doing work while nothing gets done.
My last day was 02-Aug So far it’s been a relief but dread being thrust into the job market at this age
Still trying to find another job after being fired so I'm not sure how to feel