Trial period in job as secretary (6)
I believe the answer is:
parole
'trial period' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'job as secretary' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'job' could be 'role' (a job is a role or position) and 'role' is found within the answer.
'secretary' could be 'pa' (abbreviation for personal assistant) and 'pa' is located in the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for parole that I've seen before include "Give Al rope when he's released early" , "Temporary release on promise of good behaviour" , "Promise - conditional release" , "Conditional release from imprisonment" , "Conditional release from prison" .)