Not long ago, workers in their 40s were closer to the end of their careers than the beginning, already hearing retirement's siren song. Today, by choice or by chance, many 40-somethings (and 50- and 60-somethings) are starting over, seeking new jobs or even new careers.

Looking for work can be daunting at any age, but for those 40 and older, the job search involves particular perils. Some are practical. (Should I list all 20 years of experience on my e-r?sum?? And what's an e-r?sum?, anyway?) Some are psychological. (Who'd want me when they could hire someone younger?) As baby boomers inch toward 60, there's lots of advice out there for non-spring-chickens who are shifting careers. We talked to two midlife career-changers who've made it their (new) business to steer their peers through the thicket.

Gail Geary, a high school English teacher turned lawyer turned job coach, wrote the "Over-40 Job Search Guide: 10 Strategies for Making Your Age an Advantage in Your Career" (Jist Works, 2004) and runs Atlanta Career Transition, a consulting firm ( http://www.atlantacareertransition.com). Steven Greenberg, also a lawyer, switched to recruitment and human resources 14 years ago and is now a mid-career columnist for Forbes. Last year Greenberg launched http://www.jobs4point0.com, a job-search site for folks older than 40. Here's their advice.

? Bone Up on the Basics. Younger workers expect to change jobs every four years, Geary notes, so their job-search skills never get too rusty. Yours will probably need polishing. Professional career counselors can help you update your r?sum? and interview skills; they can also provide psychological reassurance and see that you keep your search moving forward. Can't afford a coach? Most towns offer government-funded career-counseling services, Geary says; many churches offer the nondenominational Crossroads program that can lend a hand. (By the way, Geary says, "It's enough to put 10 to 15 years of work on your r?sum?. People don't want to buy 35 years of experience.")

? Be Flexible. Don't just try to replicate your former career, Geary advises, but be open to all kinds of possibilities. "Look into industries that are age-friendly, like health care and education," she suggests. But be prepared to retool: You may need to go back to school for a while or at least attend a certification program. Geary advises older workers to take advantage of their relative freedom. "We have more options than people who are younger," she says. "In a lot of cases, we have more flexibility in our schedule and hours, travel, insurance" than younger workers. And consider the possibility of pursuing a "lost career," one you always wished you'd pursued. "A counselor can help you explore whether it's financially feasible and can look to see if there's a market for [that career] in your town," Geary says.

? Get Out of the House. Don't hole up at the computer all day, our experts advise. Volunteer. Attend classes or cultural events. Maintain human contact. "If you spend all your time posting online, you may feel all alone," Geary says. Plus, she adds, "Networking is still the number-one way to go" in looking for work. "Call everyone you know. You never know where you're going to get a job lead."

? Stay -- or Get -- Active. Join a softball league, or find another way to get in shape while spending time with other adults. Being fit, Greenberg says, "makes a difference in how you interact with other people. It ramps you up, gets you out of the rut. It affects your attitude and the way you carry yourself."

? Gussy Up."One of the biggest questions I'm asked," Geary says, "is, 'Should I dye my hair?' " Probably. "Self-presentation is one of the main things for older workers," Geary says. "Update your hair, glasses, wardrobe and r?sum?."

? But Don't Go Overboard."Don't pretend to be somebody else, but make yourself as attractive a candidate as possible," Greenberg says. "Challenge yourself to make the best of your authentic self." In other words, spend more energy thinking about who you are and what you want to do with your life than on getting a facelift.

? Focus Forward."At 22, you're selling your potential," Greenberg says. "Over 40, you don't want to be looking backward. Turn your energy and commitment toward the future." So, on your r?sum?, instead of just listing what you've done, give it a forward spin: "My experience has given me contacts up and down the East Coast."

? Be Glad You're Not Retiring."AARP says that 35 percent of us will be working after 70," Geary says, "and not just for money but for keeping mentally sharp, for the social communication." She cites research showing that people who retire early and don't take up some meaningful activity suffer declining health. "It's healthier to be stimulated."

? Put On a Smile."You've got to stay positive and upbeat and expect to be successful in your job search," Greenberg says. "I get tons of cover letters that say, in all kinds of unwritten ways, 'I keep getting rejected, and I fully expect to be rejected again.' " Selective searching can help: "You can't send your r?sum? for every single job listing," Greenberg says; the combination of outright dismissals and the "giant silence" that most applications produce "creates a culture of rejection in your own life." Instead, "dig deep, find companies you like, positions you seem suited to, and craft a cover letter specifically for each job. Find jobs that are a good match and go for them."

Geary agrees. "Be optimistic and open to possibility," she says. "Be of good cheer that you're going to land your dream job that you'll like better than anything you've ever done," she says. "That's what usually happens."

-- Jennifer Huget