<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-01-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-03-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               AUG-02-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           6,378
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  209,152
<ALLOWANCES>                                     7,388
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               220,433
<PP&E>                                          37,819
<DEPRECIATION>                                  14,805
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 456,956
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          108,558
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           274
<OTHER-SE>                                     238,089
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   456,956
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,037,738
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  806,497
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 1,412<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,739
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,559
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 45,516
<INCOME-TAX>                                    17,068
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             28,448
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    28,448
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .99
<FN>
AMOUNT INCLUDED IN OTHER EXPENSES REPRESENTS Y2K EXPENDITURES.
</FN>