I didn’t know it at the time, but getting laid off from Meta was about to be my springboard to a new career — one at the cutting edge of the newest tech obsession.

I frequently get asked how I pivoted into AI prompt engineering, particularly when it was so new. At the time, most people — including me! — didn’t know what prompt engineering even was.

The job is still evolving as companies open roles and integrate these skills. And I haven’t heard any two identical origin stories yet. But here are a few steps I took as I changed careers from TV news at CNN and NBC, and then news and strategic partnerships at Meta, to establish myself as a prompt engineer.  

After the layoff, I was sure I wanted to stay in tech, so I spent a lot of time researching where my journalism and tech partnerships experience might be valued.

I consumed every bit of tech news gossip and examined companies and job descriptions for transferable skills. I was focused on finding companies that might be well-positioned to avoid the ongoing wave of layoffs, or at least bounce back quickly.

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I looked for stability and growth.

This meant I heard a lot (a lot) about OpenAI’s newly launched ChatGPT, and all the changes people hoped and feared it might bring. As a content creator and former journalist, I’m hesitant to hand the literary reins over to a bot. But I could see there was a very real market shift coming — and that was an opportunity for me.

I found a contract role at LinkedIn, a company I was very eager to work for, on the news team, where I would surely fit in. There were some drawbacks, like the short contract duration and less senior role. 

But it was at one of my target companies, and the job description made it clear that this content editor role would be focused on the platform’s newest generative AI projects. That struck me as a risk worth taking.

The exposure to the new and rapidly evolving technology had the potential to give me an advantage on other job applications, even if this contract wasn’t extended or converted to a full-time role.

Before I even had the job, I asked about what it was like to work on improving the quality of generative AI content. The hiring manager’s response was actually the first time I heard the term prompt engineer!

As I worked on editing and rating the generative AI output, I made sure my feedback was clear and tried to identify themes I saw overall. I focused on what I thought would help solve the bigger problems in the prompts or training, and hoped demonstrating an understanding of useful input might open a door for me to get more involved.

This hunch panned out well. Now, when I think about making a generative AI process work at scale, I don’t write a prompt for every individual task. I want it to work dozens or hundreds of times with very few errors or deviations from the goal, which means I have to focus on prompts that address the themes or trends in the output. 

When I talk with someone who hopes to move into prompt engineering, I always tell them to think about where they can start right now: 

• Is their current company implementing any generative AI projects they could offer to help with? 
• Do they have skills or knowledge that might make them qualified to score or annotate model responses? 

If you can start small and prove your input is valuable to the prompting process, you can create opportunities for yourself in prompt engineering.

I absolutely loved the prompting assignments I took on, and I soon became determined to secure a full-time role where this work could be my main focus. One skill I kept seeing in prompt engineer job postings was some level of proficiency in coding, specifically with Python.

I didn’t need to write Python scripts for the work I was already doing, but I did work with some existing scripts. I wanted to understand how they worked and what the errors meant. I wanted to become more self-sufficient and work more efficiently, without waiting for an engineer’s help. I wanted to make myself a stronger candidate for future roles.

So I took an online course to learn Python basics, hoping I could learn enough without fully hitting pause to go back to school for a degree. I quickly picked up the lingo that made it easier for me to talk to engineers and it showed the team I was committed and valuable.

It also gave me a leg up in my job applications, helping me pass simple coding tests and ultimately land my current role as a prompt director for an AI startup. 

Looking back, I’d say the biggest lesson for any career, and wherever prompt engineering takes me, is to always keep learning and stay open.

Kelly Daniel is a leader in AI prompt engineering with extensive experience implementing AI solutions for enterprise businesses. As Prompt Director for Lazarus AI, she develops prompting techniques and new applications for LLMs and cutting-edge technologies like agentic models. She is an instructor in CNBC’s online course How to Use AI to Be More Successful at Work.

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For more than 25 years, David Blaine has captured the world’s attention with his card tricks, illusions and feats of endurance. 

The magician has buried himself alive, caught a bullet in between his teeth and held his breath for more than 17 minutes. But though his tricks have turned him into a household name, Blaine said in a recent Hollywood Reporter profile that his career hasn’t been as lucrative as some might imagine. 

Indeed, Blaine told the magazine that after more than 25 years as a professional magician, he has “still never learned the business.” Making large amounts of money has “never been my driving force or motivation in any way,” he added. 

When asked if he has gotten rich off of magic, he was blunt in his response. “No,” Blaine said. “And I don’t want to. That’s not a goal of mine.” 

The illusionist — who according to Forbes commands “mid-six-figure” paychecks for private shows and reportedly earned $13.5 million in 2018 — added that he’s had many lucrative sponsorship opportunities presented to him throughout his career, but none that have made him want to accept. 

“I’ve turned down every single ad campaign across the board,” he says. 

That is, in part, because of a very simple rule he follows while managing his career. “Whenever I make a decision I always try to decide, ‘Would I do this for $1?'” he said in 2019. 

“The idea is if I’m offered a gig or something, if the answer is no, then I won’t do it for any amount of money,” he continued. “And if the answer is yes, then I’ll do it for whatever the deal is.”

For Blaine, the attitude toward money has helped him have the career that he wants. “That keeps my head clear,” he said at the time. It’s not the most “financially rewarding” strategy, he added, but “it keeps me focused on what I want to achieve and do.”

Blaine’s strategy is similar to that of billionaire Mark Cuban, who in 2022 revealed that his success came in part because he “never, ever thought in terms of money.”

Like Blaine, Cuban’s motivating factor isn’t the dollar figure in his bank account. “I always thought in terms of time,” he said. “That’s always been my driving motivation: How can I control my own destiny? How can I control my own time?”

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If you’re speaking with Mickey Drexler, ditch the formality.

The 80-year-old chairman of clothing brand Alex Mill, and former CEO of Gap and J.Crew Group, says he’d much rather colleagues and employees address him like a regular person, using his first name only.

“No one can call me ‘mister.’ I don’t care who it is,” Drexler said during a LinkedIn interview on April 10, adding that the title goes against his leadership philosophy of being on the same level as the people around him. “Even in restaurants, I [tell people to call me] Mickey, that’s it. I want them to feel not beneath me.”

Drexler’s accolades in the apparel industry are lengthy, from revitalizing Ann Taylor and turning Gap into a $14 billion powerhouse to founding brands like Old Navy and Madewell. He also served as an Apple board member from 1999 to 2015.

But no matter his accomplishments, Drexler insisted that he’s no better than your average employee, and other bosses should have a similar outlook, he said. It’s easy to get wrapped up running a company, but connecting with your colleagues is an essential part of leadership, he added.

″You have to connect to the team. You can’t be in your ivory tower … You don’t learn in a bureaucracy [or] in an office,” said Drexler, noting that he similarly doesn’t like the “bad connotation” of the name “CEO.”

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Bosses who engage with their employees — by asking for input, offering feedback or simply checking in — encourage career growth and send a clear message that their people matter. Employees increasingly value having connections with their managers, according to a March 2023 survey from Pew Research Center.

Empathy and transparency are both green-flag traits in bosses, Deepali Vyas, the global head of fintech, payments and crypto practice at Korn Ferry, told CNBC Make It in October.

“Managers that master the balance of emotional intelligence and not being so rigid — that’s a good boss,” said Vyas, who has 25 years of recruiting experience. He added that employees should also look for a boss that has “adaptability and someone that’s empowering you to grow.”

Drexler converses with his colleagues, both entry-level and executive, by asking simple, open-ended questions about their job or upbringing, he said. He calls it “schmoozing,” but you might refer to it as small talk or networking — creating a connection with an informal, friendly interaction.

“Meet all the people,” said Drexler, adding that small talk is a skill he developed as an executive, not something he’s always done. “Be a normal [person], not [an]

ivory-tower person who thinks they’re smarter than everyone. … You never learn [something new] unless you have a relationship with someone.”

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As human beings, we often dwell on “what ifs” in life, like this one: “What if I had done things differently when I was younger?” 

While I don’t encourage this type of thinking — it can create unnecessary anxiety and stress over things we cannot change — it’s still valuable to reflect on past mistakes and lessons. Doing so can help us grow into improved versions of ourselves. But it’s even better if we can learn from others’ mistakes before we make them too.

As a neurologist, I look back on my younger years through the lens of neuroscience and brain health. It gives me a unique perspective on things I wish I had done differently.

Here are three that stand out that I regret doing — and that you might still be able to avoid:

When I was a teenager, my parents and I didn’t fully understand the harm excessive sugar intake could have on my health. Every day after school, I drank one or two cans of soda and ate cookies along with it.

While my diet today is by no means perfect, I’ve made significant changes, and I rarely drink soda. Research is clear: Diets high in sugar contribute to insulin resistance, an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, chronic inflammation, and even cognitive decline.

Long-term, excessive sugar intake may elevate the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. 

Fortunately, reducing my soda consumption and overall sugar intake can help mitigate some of these harmful effects — though some long-term consequences may not be fully reversible.

Like many people, I love music. When I was younger, I had the unhealthy habit of blasting it in my ears. 

Excessive noise exposure can lead to hearing loss, hearing sensitivity, and tinnitus. Damage to the cochlea’s hair cells is irreversible because these cells do not regenerate. Research has shown that hearing impairment is often associated with mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Additionally, multiple studies link hearing loss to an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This is likely because when your brain struggles to process sounds due to hearing loss, it diverts cognitive resources away from memory and thinking. 

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As I age, my hearing will likely decline. Although I still use headphones and listen to music, especially when working out, I now limit the volume to 60% or lower and restrict listening time to no more than 60 minutes per day.

If you develop hearing impairment, addressing it as soon as possible can help reduce the cognitive burden. Hearing aids have been found to reduce the risk of dementia in individuals with hearing loss by not only delaying cognitive decline but also improving overall brain health.  

Interestingly, the increased risk of cognitive decline does not apply to people who were born deaf or experienced hearing loss at a very young age, as their brains develop cognitive adaptations to mitigate the negative impact. 

Although I didn’t grow up with smartphones, I still spent countless nights staying up late watching TV or playing video games. At the time, I didn’t understand the importance of sleep. Sleep duration and quality are critical to brain health — not just for rest but also for brain development during adolescence, memory consolidation, emotional processing, and waste clearance.

Now that I have a better understanding of sleep’s role, I strive to get 7-to-9 hours of sleep per night. My job as a doctor doesn’t always allow that, especially when I’m on call. However, as a strong advocate for brain health, I push for change in our profession — particularly during medical training — to ensure that more doctors get the rest they need.

Long-term structural changes to the brain may have lasting consequences. But some cognitive and behavioral impacts associated with poor sleep can be reversed by improving sleep habits.

Baibing Chen is a double-boarded certified neurologist and epileptologist practicing at the University of Michigan. Find him on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

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With tariffs creating economic uncertainty, many Americans are rethinking their emergency savings — and whether to keep some physical cash at home.

Not every financial planner thinks physical cash is essential, but some say it’s wise to keep a small amount on hand in case of power outages, natural disasters or payment disruptions.

“I would be comfortable with $500 to $1,000 in cash for unforeseen issues” like a hurricane, says Matthew Saneholtz, a certified financial planner at Tobias Financial Advisors in Florida.

Keeping $300 to $500 at home for emergencies or unexpected cash-only expenses is reasonable, says Crystal McKeon, CFP at TSA Wealth Management.

Keeping cash at home is “a personal choice,” says Melissa Caro, CFP and founder of My Retirement Network. While she says it can be “useful” in some situations, she cautions against relying too heavily on it.

“I wouldn’t go overboard with physical cash, since it’s not FDIC-insured and doesn’t earn interest,” Caro says. FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per person, per bank, across all accounts, if the FDIC-insured bank fails.

There are other downsides, too. “It can be subject to loss, theft, destruction or even impulse,” says Nicole Sullivan, CFP and co-founder of Prism Planning Partners. “If you have a significant amount of physical bills on hand, you may be more tempted to spend on ‘extras’ that you otherwise would avoid.”

If you do keep cash at home, be discreet about it, says McKeon: “Even if you think these items are safely stored in a safe, spreading this information is likely to make you a target for thieves.”

Beyond a small stash of cash at home, now is a good time to revisit your emergency fund. Financial planners typically recommend saving three to six months’ worth of essential expenses in a checking or high-yield savings account — someplace accessible, but separate from your day-to-day spending.

But with greater economic uncertainty, you might want to extend those savings to as much as a year’s worth of expenses. “If you are in an industry with layoffs likely ahead … shoot for more like nine to 12 months,” Saneholtz says.

Still, many Americans fall short when it comes to emergency savings. About 42% have no emergency savings, and 40% couldn’t cover a $1,000 expense, according to a 2025 survey from U.S. News & World Report.

If you’re starting from zero, remember that having any sort of financial cushion is better than none. “If you start at $50, it’s more than you had last month,” McKeon says. From there, try to increase your savings as your budget allows, especially by trimming non-essential spending, she says.

For an initial goal, savings of $1,000 is useful “to have on hand to fix your car, to cover small repairs on the house and minor medical situations,” says McKeon.

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