Careless friends from the east needing career (8)
I believe the answer is:
slapdash
'careless' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'friends from the east needing career' is the wordplay.
'friends' becomes 'pals' (pal is a kind of friend).
'from the east' is a reversal indicator (on a map from right to left).
'needing' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'career' becomes 'dash' (both can mean to move chaotically).
'pals' backwards is 'slap'.
'slap'+'dash'='SLAPDASH'
(Other definitions for slapdash that I've seen before include "Slipshod, sloppy" , "Hasty and careless - hit and run?" , "Carelessly hurried" , "Careless - slack" , "Careless - haphazard" .)