Quarterly Financial Information - Selected Consolidated Statements of Operations Data (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Nov. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2013	Apr. 28, 2013	Jan. 27, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012	Jul. 29, 2012	Apr. 29, 2012	Jan. 29, 2012	Nov. 03, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012	Oct. 30, 2011
REVENUE:
Staffing services		$ 492,784	$ 455,848	$ 476,729	$ 474,362	$ 518,952	$ 508,154	$ 521,278	$ 479,217	$ 1,899,723	$ 2,027,601	$ 1,957,905
Other revenue		54,011	48,365	42,995	45,843	52,607	49,878	52,165	63,876	191,214	218,526	280,204
NET REVENUE		546,795	504,213	519,724	520,205	571,559	558,032	573,443	543,093	2,090,937	2,246,127	2,238,109
EXPENSES:
Direct cost of staffing services revenue		418,824	390,432	413,116	411,993	440,600	441,124	441,341	415,868	1,634,365	1,738,933	1,698,711
Cost of other revenue		42,978	37,595	39,873	39,753	39,363	38,296	42,759	43,435	160,199	163,853	166,211
Selling, administrative and other operating costs		76,577	72,128	74,992	70,337	81,259	78,093	77,003	74,492	294,034	310,847	302,882
Amortization of purchased intangible assets		341	337	346	345	348	344	345	345	1,369	1,382	1,347
Restructuring costs		2,815	223	948	740					4,726
Gain on sale of building	(4,418)					(4,418)					(4,418)
Restatement and associated investigations		2,462	1,159	7,387	13,820	14,906	9,800	9,169	9,031	24,828	42,906	49,193
TOTAL EXPENSES		543,997	501,874	536,662	536,988	572,058	567,657	570,617	543,171	2,119,521	2,253,503	2,218,344
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)		2,798	2,339	(16,938)	(16,783)	(499)	(9,625)	2,826	(78)	(28,584)	(7,376)	19,765
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income		151	85	104	572	123	227	118	124	912	592	687
Interest expense		(1,062)	(902)	(1,001)	(904)	(926)	(936)	(899)	(903)	(3,869)	(3,664)	(3,576)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net		(486)	113	843	634	(317)	774	(1,043)	455	1,104	(131)	(569)
Other income (expense), net		(27)	(23)	114	(33)	(295)	(121)	(124)	(93)	31	(633)	(1,026)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES		1,374	1,612	(16,878)	(16,514)	(1,914)	(9,681)	878	(495)	(30,406)	(11,212)	15,281
Income tax provision (benefit)		(246)	(444)	583	576	98	1,560	331	402	469	2,391	(348)
Net income (loss)		$ 1,620	$ 2,056	$ (17,461)	$ (17,090)	$ (2,012)	$ (11,241)	$ 547	$ (897)	$ (30,875)	$ (13,603)	$ 15,629
Basic:
Net income (loss)		$ 0.08	$ 0.10	$ (0.84)	$ (0.82)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.54)	$ 0.03	$ (0.04)	$ (1.48)	$ (0.65)
Weighted average number of shares		20,837	20,829	20,825	20,813	20,813	20,813	20,813	20,813	20,826	20,813	20,813
Diluted:
Net income (loss)		$ 0.08	$ 0.10	$ (0.84)	$ (0.82)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.54)	$ 0.03	$ (0.04)	$ (1.48)	$ (0.65)
Weighted average number of shares		21,050	21,019	20,825	20,813	20,813	20,813	20,902	20,813	20,826	20,813	20,896