Segment Data - Summary of Sales and Segment Operating Income (Loss) by Reportable Operating Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	May 04, 2014	Apr. 28, 2013	May 04, 2014	Apr. 28, 2013
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Staffing service revenue	$ 406,733	$ 476,729	$ 799,002	$ 951,091
Other revenue	44,752	42,995	89,631	88,838
Net revenue	451,485	519,724	888,633	1,039,929
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	345,899	413,116	687,359	825,109
Cost of other revenue	38,656	39,873	75,934	79,626
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	64,534	74,992	131,642	145,329
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	240	346	559	691
Restructuring costs	918	948	2,279	1,688
Restatement, investigations and remediation	593	7,387	5,261	21,207
Operating income (loss)	645	(16,938)	(14,401)	(33,721)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Staffing service revenue	406,733	476,729	799,002	951,091
Other revenue	44,752	42,995	89,631	88,838
Net revenue	451,485	519,724	888,633	1,039,929
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	345,899	413,116	687,359	825,109
Cost of other revenue	38,656	39,873	75,934	79,626
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	62,575	72,612	126,725	140,659
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	240	346	559	691
Restructuring costs	598	948	1,959	1,688
Segment operating income (loss)	3,517	(7,171)	(3,903)	(7,844)
Operating Segments [Member] | Staffing Services [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Staffing service revenue	406,733	476,729	799,002	951,091
Net revenue	406,733	476,729	799,002	951,091
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	345,899	413,116	687,359	825,109
Cost of other revenue	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	53,175	62,058	107,441	120,001
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	25	12	50	24
Restructuring costs	577	133	1,234	418
Segment operating income (loss)	7,057	1,410	2,918	5,539
Operating Segments [Member] | Computer Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Other revenue	15,405	18,752	30,925	38,978
Net revenue	15,405	18,752	30,925	38,978
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	0	0	0	0
Cost of other revenue	14,590	16,742	27,735	34,557
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	4,911	6,024	10,188	11,553
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	214	215	429	429
Restructuring costs	(81)	815	623	1,270
Segment operating income (loss)	(4,229)	(5,044)	(8,050)	(8,831)
Operating Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Other revenue	29,347	24,243	58,706	49,860
Net revenue	29,347	24,243	58,706	49,860
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	0	0	0	0
Cost of other revenue	24,066	23,131	48,199	45,069
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	4,489	4,530	9,096	9,105
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	1	119	80	238
Restructuring costs	102	0	102	0
Segment operating income (loss)	689	(3,537)	1,229	(4,552)
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	2,279	2,380	5,237	4,670
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Expenses
Restatement, investigations and remediation	$ 593	$ 7,387	$ 5,261	$ 21,207