Career talk prepared no student for acting (9)
I believe the answer is:
caretaker
'for acting' is the definition.
(as in an acting manager or caretaker manager)
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for caretaker that I've seen before include "Janitor" , "exercising temporary control" , "Warden" , "Custodian, keeper" , "One looking after a building" .)