<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-01-1998 <PERIOD-START> NOV-03-1997 <PERIOD-END> FEB-01-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 8,274 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 206,785 <ALLOWANCES> 7,357 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 219,595 <PP&E> 34,061 <DEPRECIATION> 11,677 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 432,218 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 106,329 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 273 <OTHER-SE> 217,026 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 432,218 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 334,276 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 260,026 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 60,093 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,279 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,878 <INCOME-TAX> 4,829 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,049 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,049 <EPS-PRIMARY> .30 <EPS-DILUTED> .28