Ask the expert: It's never too late to swap jobs

Q. I'm currently working at a supermarket and want to change my career. I have been working in this trade for 30 years and have a real passion for it. However, I feel it is time for something new. As I have never tried a different industry, I am unsure about how to upskill myself.

A. I'm surprised that you want to change when you have a passion for the industry that you work in. However, if you feel it is time for a change, there are at least three pathways you can consider.

First, do you want to stay in the grocery industry, but take on a different type of job within it? If so, then you are probably looking at some career advice from your company (and your manager) coupled with professional education in a new aspect of the business, whether it is operations, marketing or technology.

If you enjoy the type of work you do, but want to work somewhere other than a supermarket, then your second option is to examine what you enjoy about the supermarket environment and think about other industries where it applies. For example, if you enjoy working with people and displaying goods you might switch to almost any type of small consumer goods store and be equally happy.

If you really enjoy a particular aspect of the supermarket's operations, you could also look for a position on the other side of the supplier relationship, working at the interface between suppliers and the supermarket. This type of transition requires less retraining.

The third option would be if you wanted something totally different in terms of both your job and where you work. This requires a thorough evaluation of why you want a change and what you are looking for, an analysis of the skills and networks that will be required for you to make the transition, and then going after the new requirements.

You might want to consult widely with friends and co-workers about your strengths and weaknesses, and perhaps use a career advisory centre to get an external view on your profile and career options.