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  3. Marc Wernick, BBA, MPH Training Specialist and Chair, FDA Pride, the LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group, Office of Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Training, Education and Development
  1. About FDA

Marc Wernick, BBA, MPH Training Specialist and Chair, FDA Pride, the LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group, Office of Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Training, Education and Development

- Marc Wernick, BBA, MPH Training Specialist and Chair, FDA Pride, the LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group, Office of Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Training, Education and Development

Marc Wernick

How did your career begin at FDA?

I transferred to FDA from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and started as a Financial Analyst in CBER.  I found my current position as a Training Specialist through USAJobs.

What do you value most about working at FDA?

I have a lot of respect for the subject matter experts and the partners that I work with—they are true professionals that care about their work. End of
Translation Click to Translate text after this point  I also value that my co-workers pass the "airline test" – I would choose to sit next to them on a cross country flight (as opposed to getting a seat as far away as possible). At the end of the day, I love knowing that I am making a tangible impact on food safety.

What Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are you a part of at FDA?

I am a part of FDA Pride

What are you most proud of in terms of your work at FDA?

FDA is a great place to work as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.  I am especially proud of the work that we are doing with FDA Pride, the LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group.  We have started a mentoring program, which has been a huge success.  We host monthly (virtual) open houses, which has been impactful in building a sense of a queer community at FDA, especially given the number of remote workers and field offices.  Furthermore, our Gender Expansive and Transgender Work Group is developing materials to help individuals transitioning in the workplace.  Our most recent initiative has been to set up a task force to improve hiring and retention of LGBTQIA+ employees.

What advice would you give to an FDA job seeker?

I have three pieces of advice:

  1. Tailor your federal resume to address the specifics of the job responsibilities of the positions you are applying for. I had three resumes and would tweak each one based on what was listed in the job posting.
  2. Apply for as many jobs as possible. I'd be embarrassed to tell you how many I applied to get my first federal job.
  3. Check your eligibility for special hiring authorities like Schedule A (disability) or Veteran's preference.

When you’re not at work, what is your favorite way to unwind?

I am a major foodie, so I love reading cookbooks, shopping in ethnic markets, cooking (cleaning up, not so much) and exploring new restaurants. I also love to travel. Vietnam, Cambodia, and Argentina are my favorite places.  I also enjoy my weekly game of Mah Jongg.

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