Segment Data - Summary of Sales and Segment Operating Income (Loss) by Reportable Operating Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 03, 2014	Jul. 28, 2013	Aug. 03, 2014	Jul. 28, 2013
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Staffing service revenue	$ 396,979	$ 455,848	$ 1,195,981	$ 1,406,939
Other revenue	39,992	48,365	129,623	137,203
Net revenue	436,971	504,213	1,325,604	1,544,142
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	338,704	390,432	1,026,063	1,215,541
Cost of other revenue	35,890	37,595	111,824	117,221
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	60,736	72,128	192,378	217,457
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	195	337	754	1,028
Restructuring costs	117	223	2,396	1,911
Restatement, investigations and remediation	0	1,159	5,261	22,366
Operating income (loss)	1,329	2,339	(13,072)	(31,382)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Staffing service revenue	396,979	455,848	1,195,981	1,406,939
Other revenue	39,992	48,365	129,623	137,203
Net revenue	436,971	504,213	1,325,604	1,544,142
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	338,704	390,432	1,026,063	1,215,541
Cost of other revenue	35,890	37,595	111,824	117,221
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	58,417	69,689	185,142	210,348
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	195	337	754	1,028
Restructuring costs	117	223	2,076	1,911
Segment operating income (loss)	3,648	5,937	(255)	(1,907)
Operating Segments [Member] | Staffing Services [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Staffing service revenue	396,979	455,848	1,195,981	1,406,939
Other revenue	0	0	0	0
Net revenue	396,979	455,848	1,195,981	1,406,939
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	338,704	390,432	1,026,063	1,215,541
Cost of other revenue	0	0	0	0
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	49,667	58,602	157,108	178,603
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	26	3	76	27
Restructuring costs	42	141	1,276	559
Segment operating income (loss)	8,540	6,670	11,458	12,209
Operating Segments [Member] | Computer Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Staffing service revenue	0	0	0	0
Other revenue	14,322	15,500	45,247	54,478
Net revenue	14,322	15,500	45,247	54,478
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	0	0	0	0
Cost of other revenue	13,572	14,390	41,307	48,947
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	4,349	5,792	14,537	17,345
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	169	214	598	643
Restructuring costs	(24)	82	599	1,352
Segment operating income (loss)	(3,744)	(4,978)	(11,794)	(13,809)
Operating Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Staffing service revenue	0	0	0	0
Other revenue	25,670	32,865	84,376	82,725
Net revenue	25,670	32,865	84,376	82,725
Expenses
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	0	0	0	0
Cost of other revenue	22,318	23,205	70,517	68,274
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	4,401	5,295	13,497	14,400
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	0	120	80	358
Restructuring costs	99	0	201	0
Segment operating income (loss)	(1,148)	4,245	81	(307)
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Expenses
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	2,319	2,439	7,556	7,109
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Expenses
Restatement, investigations and remediation	$ 0	$ 1,159	$ 5,261	$ 22,366