Directions left by first recruit (6)
I believe the answer is:
enlist
'recruit' is the definition.
(I know that enlist is a more specific form of the action recruit)
'directions left by first' is the wordplay.
'directions' becomes 'en' (east and north).
'left by' becomes 'l' (I've seen this in other clues).
'first' becomes 'ist' (ist resembles 1st).
'en'+'l'+'ist'='ENLIST'
(Other definitions for enlist that I've seen before include "augment army" , "Join up - tinsel (anag)" , "Listen (anag.)" , "Draft" , "Join the military" .)