Segment Disclosures - Summary of Sales and Segment Operating Income (Loss) by Reportable Operating Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2014	Jan. 27, 2013
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Staffing service revenue	$ 392,269	$ 474,362
Other revenue	44,879	45,843
Net revenue	437,148	520,205
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	341,460	411,993
Cost of other revenue	37,278	39,753
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	67,108	70,337
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	319	345
Restructuring costs	1,361	740
Restatement, investigations and remediation	4,668	13,820
Operating loss	(15,046)	(16,783)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Staffing service revenue	392,269	474,362
Other revenue	44,879	45,843
Net revenue	437,148	520,205
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	341,460	411,993
Cost of other revenue	37,278	39,753
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	64,150	68,047
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	319	345
Restructuring costs	1,361	740
Segment operating income (loss)	(7,420)	(673)
Operating Segments [Member] | Staffing Services [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Staffing service revenue	392,269	474,362
Net revenue	392,269	474,362
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	341,460	411,993
Cost of other revenue	0	0
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	54,266	57,943
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	25	12
Restructuring costs	657	285
Segment operating income (loss)	(4,139)	4,129
Operating Segments [Member] | Computer Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Other revenue	15,520	20,226
Net revenue	15,520	20,226
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	0	0
Cost of other revenue	13,145	17,815
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	5,277	5,529
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	215	214
Restructuring costs	704	455
Segment operating income (loss)	(3,821)	(3,787)
Operating Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Other revenue	29,359	25,617
Net revenue	29,359	25,617
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	0	0
Cost of other revenue	24,133	21,938
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	4,607	4,575
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	79	119
Segment operating income (loss)	540	(1,015)
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	2,958	2,290
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Expenses
Restatement, investigations and remediation	$ 4,668	$ 13,820