Quarterly Financial Information - Selected Consolidated Statements of Operations Data (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 02, 2014	Aug. 03, 2014	May 04, 2014	Feb. 02, 2014	Nov. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2013	Apr. 28, 2013	Jan. 27, 2013	Nov. 02, 2014	Nov. 03, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012
REVENUE:
Staffing services	$ 403,065	$ 396,979	$ 406,733	$ 392,269	$ 492,784	$ 455,848	$ 476,729	$ 474,362	$ 1,599,046	$ 1,899,723	$ 2,027,601
Other revenue	26,606	25,670	29,347	29,359	35,024	32,865	24,243	25,617	110,982	117,749	118,847
NET REVENUE	429,671	422,649	436,080	421,628	527,808	488,713	500,972	499,979	1,710,028	2,017,472	2,146,448
EXPENSES:
Direct cost of staffing services revenue	337,045	337,285	344,922	339,796	416,669	388,763	411,393	410,341	1,359,048	1,627,166	1,731,595
Cost of other revenue	21,922	22,319	24,066	24,133	26,245	23,205	23,131	21,938	92,440	94,519	95,572
Selling, administrative and other operating costs	63,905	57,805	60,600	63,495	71,763	68,005	70,691	66,460	245,805	276,919	291,288
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	25	26	26	104	126	123	131	131	181	511	523
Restructuring costs	710	141	999	657	222	141	133	285	2,507	781	0
Restatement, investigations and remediation	0	0	593	4,668	2,462	1,159	7,387	13,820	5,261	24,828	42,906
TOTAL EXPENSES	423,607	417,576	431,206	432,853	517,487	481,396	512,866	512,975	1,705,242	2,024,724	2,157,466
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	6,064	5,073	4,874	(11,225)	10,321	7,317	(11,894)	(12,996)	4,786	(7,252)	(11,018)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income	(18)	63	126	96	151	85	104	572	267	912	615
Interest expense	(795)	(851)	(928)	(956)	(1,062)	(903)	(1,002)	(904)	(3,530)	(3,871)	(3,664)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net	494	(134)	(630)	388	185	(163)	443	(96)	118	369	378
Other income (expense), net	(72)	(8)	216	62	(34)	(23)	112	(34)	198	21	(634)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	5,673	4,143	3,658	(11,635)	9,561	6,313	(12,237)	(13,458)	1,839	(9,821)	(14,323)
Income tax provision	1,164	738	2,277	1,047	(340)	(820)	2,199	1,883	5,226	2,922	1,712
NET LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	4,509	3,405	1,381	(12,682)	9,901	7,133	(14,436)	(15,341)	(3,387)	(12,743)	(16,035)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF INCOME TAXES	(2,448)	(3,885)	(4,876)	(4,392)	(8,281)	(5,077)	(3,025)	(1,749)	(15,601)	(18,132)	2,432
Net loss	$ 2,061	$ (480)	$ (3,495)	$ (17,074)	$ 1,620	$ 2,056	$ (17,461)	$ (17,090)	$ (18,988)	$ (30,875)	$ (13,603)
Basic:
Loss from continuing operations, basic (USD per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.16	$ 0.07	$ (0.61)	$ 0.48	$ 0.34	$ (0.69)	$ (0.74)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.61)	$ (0.77)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (USD per share)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.40)	$ (0.24)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.75)	$ (0.87)	$ 0.12
Net loss (USD per share)	$ 0.10	$ (0.03)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.82)	$ 0.08	$ 0.10	$ (0.84)	$ (0.82)	$ (0.91)	$ (1.48)	$ (0.65)
Weighted average number of shares (shares)	20,874	20,866	20,861	20,849	20,837	20,829	20,825	20,813	20,863	20,826	20,813
Diluted:
Loss from continuing operations, diluted (USD per share)	$ 0.21	$ 0.16	$ 0.07	$ (0.61)	$ 0.47	$ 0.34	$ (0.69)	$ (0.74)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.61)	$ (0.77)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (USD per share)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.39)	$ (0.24)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.75)	$ (0.87)	$ 0.12
Net loss (USD per share)	$ 0.10	$ (0.02)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.82)	$ 0.08	$ 0.10	$ (0.84)	$ (0.82)	$ (0.91)	$ (1.48)	$ (0.65)
Weighted average number of shares	21,013	21,072	21,084	20,849	21,050	21,019	20,825	20,813	20,863	20,826	20,813