Starting Over Doesn’t Mean Starting from Scratch: How Candas Kirnaz found his path in New York with the help of City Tutors and a Morgan Stanley mentor

When Candas Kirnaz arrived in New York City from Istanbul, he wasn’t just stepping into a new country—he was stepping into a whole new chapter of his life.

For over 15 years, Candas had built a successful career in Turkey as a CPA, running his own accounting firm, advising clients, and even working in corporate finance at Deloitte. But as automation and AI began reshaping the field of accounting, he saw a shift coming—and decided to pivot toward finance. He packed up his life and enrolled in Baruch College’s MS in Finance program, eager to adapt and grow.

But despite his deep experience, the transition was tougher than expected.

“I had all this knowledge and background, but no local experience. The job search felt like I was invisible,” Candas recalls. “And culturally, everything was different—how you network, how you talk to recruiters, even how you format your resume.”

That’s when a friend introduced him to The City Tutors, a nonprofit providing free, personalized mentorship to individuals like Candas—people navigating professional reinvention in a city where who you know can matter as much as what you know.

He began by attending virtual mentorship events, then joined the mentorship program. After a few initial pairings, he attended a virtual panel that changed everything.

“There were several professionals speaking, but one person really stood out—Meredith Tapper, an attorney at Morgan Stanley,” Candas says. “She wasn’t just talking. She was listening. She was present. I could tell she really cared.”

He reached out, and to his surprise, Meredith responded warmly. They began meeting monthly for coffee near her office in midtown Manhattan. Each conversation became a deep dive into the unspoken rules of the American job market.

They covered everything—from how to network without sounding transactional, to translating Turkish accomplishments into a New York-style resume, to striking the balance between confidence and humility. Meredith offered mock interviews, reviewed job applications, and even invited him to events to connect with finance professionals.

“In Turkey, conversations are long, warm, and layered. Here, everything is efficient,” Candas says. “Meredith taught me how to tell my story in a way that makes sense to people here. That’s not something you find in a textbook.”

With her support, Candas gained not only practical insight but also a renewed sense of confidence. Though the role he applied for at Morgan Stanley wasn’t the right fit, the process opened the door to a valuable conversation with the firm’s HR team, who offered feedback on resume formatting and cultural nuances in professional communication—advice that proved invaluable.

Soon after, Candas landed a role at a Wall Street law firm and later an internship at Deloitte U.S., finally building the local experience he had long been seeking.

But more than any title or job offer, he gained something deeper: a sense of belonging.

“Meredith never made me feel like an outsider. She saw me. She listened. And she helped me navigate a system that often feels closed off to people like me.”

Now, Candas is preparing to give back, becoming a mentor himself through City Tutors—ready to support the next person stepping into a new chapter, just as he once did.