Segment Data - Summary of Sales and Segment Operating Income (Loss) by Reportable Operating Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017	May 01, 2016	Apr. 30, 2017	May 01, 2016
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
NET REVENUE	$ 303,005	$ 335,576	$ 616,029	$ 662,544
Cost of services	255,886	284,104	522,020	565,504
GROSS MARGIN	47,119	51,472	94,009	97,040
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	51,171	51,128	100,061	103,751
Restructuring and severance costs	199	840	823	3,601
Impairment charge	290	0	290	0
Gain from divestitures	(3,938)	(1,663)	(3,938)	(1,663)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	(603)	1,167	(3,227)	(8,649)
Other income (expense), net	(1,018)	(1,861)	(2,348)	(2,454)
Income tax provision (benefit)	(767)	1,091	(144)	1,644
NET LOSS	(854)	(1,785)	(5,431)	(12,747)
Operating Segments | North American Staffing
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
NET REVENUE	233,804	250,881	465,669	489,456
Cost of services	199,068	213,893	397,910	421,333
GROSS MARGIN	34,736	36,988	67,759	68,123
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	31,634	30,923	61,733	61,661
Restructuring and severance costs	44	34	140	592
Impairment charge	0		0
Gain from divestitures	0	0	0	0
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	3,058	6,031	5,886	5,870
Operating Segments | International Staffing
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
NET REVENUE	30,231	33,250	60,581	67,201
Cost of services	25,670	28,290	51,327	57,461
GROSS MARGIN	4,561	4,960	9,254	9,740
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	4,030	4,218	8,071	8,565
Restructuring and severance costs	0	(7)	10	470
Impairment charge	0		0
Gain from divestitures	0	0	0	0
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	531	749	1,173	705
Operating Segments | Technology Outsourcing Services and Solutions
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
NET REVENUE	24,499	24,981	50,170	52,195
Cost of services	19,634	20,137	40,408	41,763
GROSS MARGIN	4,865	4,844	9,762	10,432
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	3,806	3,538	7,064	6,904
Restructuring and severance costs	(16)	0	37	225
Impairment charge	0		0
Gain from divestitures	0	0	0	0
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	1,075	1,306	2,661	3,303
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
NET REVENUE	16,033	29,590	42,329	59,995
Cost of services	13,076	24,910	35,095	51,250
GROSS MARGIN	2,957	4,680	7,234	8,745
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	11,701	12,449	23,193	26,621
Restructuring and severance costs	171	813	636	2,314
Impairment charge	290		290
Gain from divestitures	(3,938)	(1,663)	(3,938)	(1,663)
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	(5,267)	(6,919)	(12,947)	(18,527)
Eliminations
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
NET REVENUE	(1,562)	(3,126)	(2,720)	(6,303)
Cost of services	(1,562)	(3,126)	(2,720)	(6,303)
GROSS MARGIN	0	0	0	0
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	0	0	0	0
Restructuring and severance costs	0	0	0	0
Impairment charge	0		0
Gain from divestitures	0	0	0	0
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0