Her Story
About Eleanor
Eleanor Martin is a Human Resources Generalist at ams OSRAM in Hillsboro, New Hampshire, with extensive experience in HR operations, employee relations, onboarding, compliance, and employee support. She began developing her HR career after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Keene State College, initially working as a Recruiting Associate before progressing into an HR Operations Specialist role at C&S Wholesale Grocers. During her more than six years in HR operations, she supported employee records, I-9 administration, employment verifications, unemployment cases, benefits processing, relocation programs, and cross-functional HR initiatives.
In her current role, Eleanor focuses primarily on employee relations and the employee lifecycle. She conducts new-hire HR orientations, supports employees with questions and concerns, assists with leave and policy-related matters, and works to maintain effective communication between employees and organizational leadership. She has also taken on broader responsibilities during periods of organizational transition, including supporting policy management and employee relations when her department was temporarily without an HR manager. Among her notable professional achievements, she saved her previous employer approximately $1.4 million in unemployment liability through effective administration of the unemployment claims process and served as a key stakeholder in a major hourly wage audit designed to promote equitable treatment of employees.
Eleanor approaches human resources with patience, careful research, and a strong commitment to employee advocacy. She believes in investigating concerns thoroughly, considering multiple perspectives, and trusting her judgment after gathering the relevant facts. Her professional development includes an HR Foundations: Core Human Resources certification from LinkedIn. Beyond her professional responsibilities, she supports the Human Rights Campaign and a local animal shelter in the Keene area through regular donations and remains involved in her local music and theater communities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Eleanor
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to patience, continuous learning, and my commitment to advocating for employees. My experience in human resources showed me how important HR can be as a bridge between an organization and its employees. I want to be the strongest advocate I can be for employees and help ensure they have the opportunities and support they need.
Patience has also been a major factor in my approach. I believe in taking a step back from a situation, giving myself time to understand what is happening, allowing the facts to come forward, and considering the different nuances before making a decision. Human resources is a complex environment, so taking that moment to pause and understand the situation has been extremely valuable throughout my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to trust my instincts. If something feels wrong, I should investigate it rather than immediately accepting someone else's interpretation. I believe in looking into the situation, understanding both sides, conducting thorough research, and making my own informed decisions.
I have also learned that it is always better to ask a question than to wonder about something. Even if I think a question may seem obvious, asking it allows me to understand the situation properly and do the work correctly. As long as I have done the research and can support what I am saying, I can make decisions with confidence.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young professionals entering human resources to learn how to balance the big-picture perspective with the details of an individual situation. HR requires the ability to understand broader organizational goals while also paying close attention to the specific circumstances affecting an employee or situation.
It is important to recognize when to move between those two perspectives. Understanding both the broader context and the individual details can help you make more thoughtful, informed decisions.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the challenges I have experienced in human resources is maintaining the right balance between the big-picture approach and the micro-level details of individual employee situations. Knowing when to shift between these perspectives is important because HR decisions can affect both individual employees and the organization as a whole.
My experience has reinforced the importance of understanding the broader organizational context while still giving appropriate attention to the specific facts and circumstances of each situation.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The specific values I identified in my professional and personal approach are centered on advocating for employees, acting thoughtfully, and making informed decisions based on facts. I believe in taking the time to understand situations, listening to different perspectives, and ensuring that people are treated fairly.
Outside of work, I also value community involvement and supporting causes that are meaningful to me. I regularly contribute to the Human Rights Campaign and to a local animal shelter in the Keene area. I am also active in my local music community, including participation in choral groups and supporting local theater programs.
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