Company man works as a programmer (5)
I believe the answer is:
codes
'works as a programmer' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'company man' is the wordplay.
'company' becomes 'co' (abbreviation).
'man' becomes 'des' ().
'co'+'des'='CODES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for codes that I've seen before include "Sets of rules or cryptograms" , "Symbolic systems" , "Word systems devised to create secrecy" , "System of letters etc for the purpose of secrecy" , "Ciphers" .)