Piled in disorder as one worked at the job (5)

I believe the answer is:

plied

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'one worked at the job' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'piled in disorder' is the wordplay.
'in disorder' indicates anagramming the letters.
'piled' is an anagram of 'PLIED'.

'as' is the link.

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(Other definitions for plied that I've seen before include "Worked steadily at (a trade)" , "Did regularly cross" , "Regularly went" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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