Start to plead for a job (4)
I believe the answer is:
task
'a job' is the definition.
('task' can be a synonym of 'job')
'start to plead' is the wordplay.
'start' means to remove the last letter (I've seen 'start of' mean this).
'plead' becomes 'ask' (I've seen this in another clue).
'to' with its last letter removed is 't'.
't'+'ask'='TASK'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for task that I've seen before include "Give mission" , "Arduous bit of work" , "commission" , "Job, undertaking" , "exercise" .)