<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-02-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-27-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           4,446
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  212,169
<ALLOWANCES>                                     9,160
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               233,369
<PP&E>                                          34,237
<DEPRECIATION>                                  17,294
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 426,550
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          141,233
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           243
<OTHER-SE>                                     127,571
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   426,550
<SALES>                                        931,868
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               931,868
<CGS>                                          726,751
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  726,751
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               157,529
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,447
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,767
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 40,087
<INCOME-TAX>                                    15,232
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             24,855
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    24,855
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.96
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.96