A Career in Direct Sales

We sat down with Maria, a Data & Insights Analyst at CPM Ireland, to hear about her journey and experience growing a career in Direct Sales...

Tell us a bit about yourself

I'm a passionate professional, client focused who enjoys solving problems and turning data into insights. I began my career in journalism then worked across communications, design, and marketing —fields that taught me how to create a message and connect with people. Over time, I transitioned into operations, reporting, and eventually data analysis, where I now use tools like Python and Machine Learning to explore data, create impactful ways to present findings and uncover patterns.

What I enjoy most is that data analysis brings together both the creative and the logical side of things. I often say it's a lot like journalism—you’re asking the same questions: who, what, when, where, and why; but instead of talking to people, you're digging through data to find the answers. The goal is to figure out what the data is really telling you and share that story in a way others can use.

What is your role in CPM?

My role is Data & Insight Analyst, working on the Direct Sales side of the business. CPM has a strong presence in both retail and direct sales; the latter focuses on door-to-door campaigns targeting both consumers and businesses. My job is to ensure data accuracy, combine all available data sources, and identify patterns that can guide better decision-making and improve sales efficiency. That might involve building reports, spotting trends, or digging into raw data to figure out what is really happening. I help the team to understand how different areas are performing, where we are winning, what is driving results, and where we can make the most impact. In the end, it’s all about helping our client get a better understanding of their customers and making smarter decisions based on that.

How does this role add value to CPM’s clients?

This role helps CPM offer a more strategic and targeted service to our clients. One of the premises at CPM is to leverage data to improve the sales of our clients, so the data team plays a key role in delivering value to our clients.

By analysing trends and uncovering what the data is telling us, we can focus on the areas that deliver the biggest return on investment. It means we’re maximising the opportunities for our clients. The insights we generate help our clients understand what’s driving performance, so they can make better decisions and see real results.

Why work at CPM at this stage in your career?

This role felt like the right next step for me as it gave me a chance to roll up my sleeves and focus on data analysis full-time. What also appealed to me was working on the direct sales side of the business. I had previously worked more with retail clients, so this was a great opportunity to look at different data sources and see the impact of my work in a more immediate, tangible way. Having worked with CPM before, I also knew I’d be joining a team of passionate, action-oriented professionals who share a growth mindset and a drive to get things done.

What do you enjoy most about working with CPM?

I really enjoy the chance to work with strong clients such as Vodafone, Electric Ireland, GNI and MSF. Also, I get to be part of a great data team, where there is support and collaboration. I get to work under the guidance of a strategic and approachable leader, and analyse the results delivered by top sales performers.

I appreciate the trust I’ve been given to use more advanced methods and techniques, such as machine learning. There is still a lot of untapped potential in applying these methods to field sales, and it’s exciting to be part of that journey.

Interested in a career in Direct Sales?  Check out our open opportunities HERE