Key Points:
- The Transition Journey: Max Kingsley emphasized the challenges and opportunities of transitioning from military service to civilian life. He shared how his background as an Army officer shaped his leadership skills, which were transferable but needed fine-tuning for the corporate world. His advice to other transitioning veterans highlighted the importance of understanding civilian job roles and building a strategic exit plan.
- Networking and Persistence: Max’s proactive approach to breaking into the financial sector demonstrated the value of networking. Through cold emails and leveraging tools like LinkedIn Premium, he successfully made connections that led to job opportunities. Even unsuccessful interactions proved beneficial, offering feedback and insights into improving his job-seeking strategies.
- Choosing Nashville: Max shared his reasons for settling in Nashville after leaving the Army, citing its family-friendly atmosphere, affordability, and growth opportunities. He highlighted the vibrant community and noted how the city offers a supportive environment for young families and career advancement.
Transcript:
Emily: Good afternoon, everyone. I’m so excited to be on the show today. I’m Emily, one of the managing directors here at Transition Overwatch. Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Max Kingsley, a financial analyst at Regent Surgical Health and an Army veteran. Max, thanks so much for being on the show.
Max: Thanks for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Emily: Absolutely! Today, we’re focusing on your journey from military service to the civilian sector. I know hearing about others’ transitions can be really helpful for those looking to follow a similar path. Let’s start at the beginning. How did you decide to join the military, and what has your journey looked like since then?
Max: Honestly, I don’t remember a specific moment where I decided. I always wanted to join the military. I grew up around it—lots of family members in different branches. After playing college football and graduating at 320 pounds, I realized I needed to get in shape and choose a branch. After researching, talking to people, and weighing my options, I ultimately decided on the Army. I went to Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Benning, commissioned as an infantry officer, and served with the 101st Airborne until 2021.
Emily: Did anything in particular lead you to the Army?
Max: Initially, I was against the Army because of those digital camo uniforms. I even leaned toward the Marines for their sharp-looking uniforms. But after giving every branch a fair evaluation, I liked the opportunities Army OCS offered—particularly the merit-based system for getting your choice of branch. I didn’t consider the Navy much, and while the Air Force seemed cool, I wanted to be on the ground doing the “go Army” stuff.
Emily: I know you’re based near Nashville now. Did your time at Fort Campbell influence your decision to settle there?
Max: Definitely. I grew up outside Boston, as did my wife, but we decided to stay in the Nashville area. I left the Army primarily for family reasons. My wife and son—it was just the three of us at the time—had a tough time with the military lifestyle. Now we have three kids, and staying in one place made sense for us. I didn’t plan on leaving the Army as early as I did, but I wanted to prioritize my family and avoid becoming another military divorce statistic.
Emily: That’s a tough decision, but it sounds like the right one for you and your family. Transitioning in 2021 must have been particularly challenging. How did that process look for you?
Max: It was chaotic. We were sent home for two weeks for COVID, which turned into two months. When we returned, we had to catch up on everything we missed, which included a summer CTC rotation and field training. Balancing that with the exit process—submitting packets, dealing with delays—was a sprint.
I actually got my first civilian job at Amazon while on ETS leave. They reached out via LinkedIn, thanks to the LinkedIn Premium offer for active military. It’s a great tool for creating opportunities.
Emily: Amazon is a common starting point for veterans. What drew you there, and how was that experience?
Max: It wasn’t a passion for logistics, that’s for sure! I figured worst-case scenario, it would keep me busy and pay the bills while I figured out my next steps. My entire leadership team there were veterans—Marines, Air Force, Navy—so the transition felt familiar. But ultimately, I realized I wanted to move in a different direction.
Emily: How did you pivot from logistics to financial analysis?
Max: I didn’t approach it by asking what I wanted to do. Instead, I asked what I needed to do to open up opportunities. I recognized my lack of experience in financial skills—reading income statements, modeling, cash flows—so I decided to address those gaps.
I cold-emailed every investment bank, private equity, venture capital, and consulting firm in Nashville. Over a month, I reached out to as many people as I could, asking for coffee chats or advice. That approach landed me a few job offers and brought me into my current field.
Emily: Cold-emailing takes guts! How did you figure out whom to contact?
Max: I leveraged my network. Friends in private equity shared tools that generated lists of relevant companies, complete with owner names and contact info. I prioritized people with similar backgrounds, like entry-level associates who might resonate with my journey. Even when conversations didn’t lead to offers, they were often helpful for feedback on my resume or advice on breaking into the field.
Emily: That’s inspiring. Networking has come up repeatedly in our conversations with veterans—it’s a critical skill for transitions. What role did LinkedIn Premium play in your process?
Max: LinkedIn Premium was invaluable. It helped me understand job market dynamics, like what skills were in demand and how I compared to other applicants. It even highlighted gaps in my profile, like listing software skills I hadn’t thought to include. The ability to directly message recruiters or professionals also helped me connect more effectively.
Emily: If you could do anything differently during your transition, what would it be?
Max: I would’ve started preparing earlier. I focused on making the most of my last months in the Army—leading soldiers and qualifying on the range—but it left me scrambling when I ETSed. I also wish I’d better understood the civilian job landscape earlier. I didn’t know what roles like “project manager” entailed, let alone how to prepare for them.
Emily: That’s great advice for others. To wrap up, why Nashville? What makes it home for you?
Max: For us, it’s the family-friendly atmosphere, the cost of living, and the opportunities. Nashville is growing, and people here are incredibly welcoming. It’s a great place to raise a family, and I’ve been trying to convince my brothers to move here—no luck yet, but fingers crossed!
Emily: That’s fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing your journey, Max. For anyone listening, I’m happy to connect and share resources. Max, I’m sure you’d be open to connecting as well if someone is exploring a similar career path?
Max: Absolutely! I’d be happy to help.
Emily: Thank you again for joining us, Max. This has been such an insightful conversation.
