hardly __a good job without putting his best foot forward at his job interview .

如果Jim在面试中没有尽力表现,他很难找到一份好工作.
hardly 就是指刚刚,几乎不,差点不.是一个否定词,前置就要用倒装.该句本来应该是
Jim hardly ever get a good job without.
hardly和without都是否定词,双重否定表示肯定,也就是说“如果没有……,则差点不……”