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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                               to                              .

Commission File Number 1-10427

ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (650) 234-6000

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes ý    No o

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes ý    No o

        Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock as of April 30, 2003:

170,141,689 shares of $.001 par value Common Stock

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
(in thousands, except share amounts)

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are
an integral part of these financial statements.

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ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are
an integral part of these financial statements.

2

ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(in thousands)

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are
an integral part of these financial statements.

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ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are
an integral part of these financial statements.

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ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2003

(Unaudited)

Note A—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        Nature of Operations.    Robert Half International Inc. (the "Company") provides specialized staffing and risk consulting services through such divisions as Accountemps®, Robert Half® Finance & Accounting, OfficeTeam®, Robert Half® Technology, Robert Half® Management Resources, The Affiliates®, The Creative Group®, and Protiviti^SM. The Company, through its Accountemps, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Robert Half Management Resources divisions, is the world's largest specialized provider of temporary, full-time, and project professionals in the fields of accounting and finance. OfficeTeam specializes in highly skilled temporary administrative support personnel. Robert Half Technology provides information technology professionals. The Affiliates provides temporary, project, and full-time staffing of attorneys and specialized support personnel within law firms and corporate legal departments. The Creative Group provides project staffing in the advertising, marketing, and web design fields. Protiviti began operations on May 24, 2002, and provides business and technology risk consulting and internal audit services. Protiviti, which primarily employs risk-consulting and internal audit professionals formerly associated with major accounting firms, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Revenues are predominantly derived from specialized staffing services. The Company operates in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The Company is a Delaware corporation.

        Basis of Presentation.    The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented have been included. These unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2002, included in the annual report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of, nor comparable to, the results of operations for a full year.

        Principles of Consolidation.    The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All significant intercompany balances have been eliminated.

        Use of Estimates.    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. As of March 31, 2003, such estimates included reserves for uncollectible accounts receivable, workers' compensation losses, legal claims, income and other taxes, and certain employee retirement plans.

        Revenue Recognition.    Temporary and consultant staffing services revenues are recognized when the services are rendered by the Company's temporary employees. Permanent placement staffing revenues are recognized when employment candidates accept offers of permanent employment. Allowances are established to estimate losses due to placed candidates not remaining employed for the Company's guarantee period, typically 90 days. Risk consulting and internal audit services revenues are recognized as services are provided. Reimbursements, including those relating to travel and out-of-pocket expenses, are included in revenues, and equivalent amounts of reimbursable expenses are included in direct costs of services.

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        Costs of Services.    Direct costs of staffing services consist of payroll, payroll taxes and insurance costs for the Company's temporary employees. There are no direct costs associated with permanent placement staffing services. Risk consulting and internal audit costs of services include professional staff payroll, payroll taxes and insurance costs, as well as reimbursable expenses.

        Advertising Costs.    The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred.

        Cash and Cash Equivalents.    The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity at the date of purchase of three months or less as cash equivalents.

        Intangible Assets.    Intangible assets primarily consist of the cost of acquired companies in excess of the fair market value of their net tangible assets at the date of acquisition, which were being amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of 40 years through December 31, 2001. The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets ("SFAS 142"), on January 1, 2002. Under SFAS 142, goodwill is no longer subject to amortization over its estimated useful life. The methods used for evaluating and measuring impairment of certain intangible assets have changed in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 142. The Company's annual goodwill impairment analysis will be performed during the second quarter.

        Income Tax Assets and Liabilities.    In establishing its deferred income tax assets and liabilities, the Company makes judgments and interpretations based on the enacted tax laws and published tax guidance that are applicable to its operations. The Company records deferred tax assets and liabilities and evaluates the need for valuation allowances to reduce the deferred tax assets to realizable amounts. The likelihood of a material change in the Company's expected realization of these assets is dependent on future taxable income, its ability to use foreign tax credit carryforwards and carrybacks, final U.S. and foreign tax settlements, and the effectiveness of its tax planning strategies in the various relevant jurisdictions.

        Foreign Currency Translation.    The results of operations of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are translated at the monthly average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The financial position of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is translated at the current exchange rates at the end of the period, and the related translation adjustments are recorded as a component of comprehensive income within Stockholders' Equity. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, and have not been material for the periods presented.

        Stock Option Plans.    The Company accounts for its stock option plans in accordance with APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees ("APB 25"). Under APB 25, the intrinsic value of the options is used to record compensation expense and, as a result, no compensation expense related to stock options is included in determining net income and net income per share in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. As required by SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure ("SFAS 148"), calculations of pro forma net income and net income per share, computed in accordance with the method prescribed by SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation ("SFAS 123"), are set forth in Note G to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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        Property and Equipment.    Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation expense is computed using the straight-line method over the following useful lives:

        Internal-use Software.    The Company capitalizes direct costs of services used in the development of internal-use software. Amounts capitalized are reported as a component of computer software within property and equipment. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, the Company capitalized approximately $2.1 million of internal-use software development costs.

Note B—Deferred Income Taxes and Other Current Assets

        Deferred income taxes and other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

Note C—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net

        The following table sets forth the activity in the intangible assets from December 31, 2002 through March 31, 2003 (in thousands):

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        The estimated remaining amortization expense is $7.3 million for 2003, and none thereafter.

Note D—Property and Equipment, Net

        Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):

Note E—Accrued Payroll Costs and Retirement Obligations

        Accrued payroll costs and retirement obligations consisted of the following (in thousands):

Note F—Contingencies

        The Company is involved in a number of lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. While management does not expect any of these matters to have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, financial position or cash flows, litigation is subject to certain inherent uncertainties.

        In connection with the formation of Protiviti, the Company became the guarantor of certain employee notes totaling $3.2 million at March 31, 2003.

Note G—Stock Plans

        Under various stock plans, officers, employees and outside directors may receive grants of restricted stock or options to purchase common stock. Grants are made at the discretion of the Stock Plan Committee of the Board of Directors. Grants generally vest between two and four years.

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        Options granted under the plans have exercise prices ranging from 85% to 100% of the fair market value of the Company's common stock at the date of grant and may consist of both incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock options under the Internal Revenue Code. The terms range from 27 months to 10 years.

        Recipients of restricted stock do not pay any cash consideration to the Company for the shares, have the right to vote all shares subject to such grant, and receive all dividends with respect to such shares, whether or not the shares have vested. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Vesting is accelerated upon the death or disability of the recipients.

        The Company accounts for these plans under APB 25. Therefore, the intrinsic value of the options is used to record compensation expense and, as a result, no compensation expense has been recognized for its stock option plans. Had compensation expense for the stock options granted subsequent to January 1, 1995, been based on the estimated fair value at the award dates, as prescribed by SFAS 123, the Company's pro forma net income and net income per share would have been as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

        The pro forma amounts do not include amounts for stock options granted before January 1, 1995. Therefore, the pro forma amounts may not be representative of the disclosed effects on pro forma net income and net income per share for future years.

        The fair value of each option is estimated, as of the grant date, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions used for grants in 2003 and 2002: no dividend yield for any year; expected volatility of 49% to 51%; risk-free interest rates of 2.3% to 4.9%; and expected lives of 1.5 to 5.8 years.

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Note H—Net Income (Loss) Per Share

        The calculation of net income (loss) per share for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 is reflected in the following table (in thousands, except per share amounts):

Note I—Business Segments

        The Company has three reportable segments: temporary and consultant staffing, permanent placement staffing, and risk consulting services. The temporary and consultant segment provides specialized staffing in the accounting and finance, administrative and office, information technology, legal, advertising, marketing and web design fields. The permanent placement segment provides full-time personnel in the accounting, finance, administrative and office, and information technology fields. The risk consulting segment provides business and technology risk consulting and internal audit services.

        The accounting policies of the segments are set forth in Note A—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. The Company evaluates performance based on profit or loss from operations before interest income, intangible amortization expense, and income taxes.

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        The following table provides a reconciliation of revenue and operating income (loss) by reportable segment to consolidated results (in thousands):

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ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

        Certain information contained in Management's Discussion and Analysis and in other parts of this report may be deemed forward-looking statements regarding events and financial trends that may affect the Company's future operating results or financial positions. These statements may be identified by words such as "estimate", "forecast", "project", "plan", "intend", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", or variations or negatives thereof or by similar or comparable words or phrases. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: changes in levels of unemployment and other economic conditions in the U.S. or foreign countries where the Company does business, or in particular regions or industries; reduction in the supply of qualified candidates for temporary employment or the Company's ability to attract qualified candidates; the entry of new competitors into the marketplace or expansion by existing competitors; the ability of the Company to maintain existing client relationships and attract new clients in the context of changing economic or competitive conditions; the impact of competitive pressures, including any change in the demand for the Company's services, on the Company's ability to maintain its profit margins; the possibility of the Company incurring liability for its activities, including the activities of its temporary employees or for events impacting its temporary employees on clients' premises; the success of the Company in attracting, training and retaining qualified management personnel and other staff employees; whether governments will impose additional regulations or licensing requirements on personnel services businesses in particular or on employer/employee relationships in general; future success of the new Protiviti subsidiary will depend on its ability to retain employees and attract clients; significant costs and diversion of management time could be incurred in integrating key personnel into Protiviti; certain capitalizable costs associated with the Protiviti employment arrangements could become impaired and written off; failure of Protiviti to produce projected revenues could adversely affect financial results; and the possibility of involvement in litigation relating to prior transactions or activities. Because long-term contracts are not a significant part of the Company's business, future results cannot be reliably predicted by considering past trends or extrapolating past results.

Critical Accounting Policies

        In response to the SEC's Release No. 33-8040, "Cautionary Advice Regarding Disclosure About Critical Accounting Policies," we identified the Company's most critical accounting policies to be those that involve subjective decisions, assessments or estimates.

        Accounts Receivable Allowances.    The Company maintains accounts receivable allowances for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. If the financial condition of the Company's customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. Estimates used in determining the accounts receivable allowances were based on current trends and historical loss statistics. Actual results may differ from these estimates, which may materially affect the Company's future financial results.

        Income Tax Assets and Liabilities.    In establishing its deferred income tax assets and liabilities, the Company makes judgments and interpretations based on the enacted tax laws and published tax guidance that are applicable to its operations. The Company records deferred tax assets and liabilities and evaluates the need for valuation allowances to reduce the deferred tax assets to realizable amounts. The likelihood of a material change in the Company's expected realization of these assets is dependent on future taxable income, its ability to use foreign tax credit carryforwards and carrybacks, final U.S. and foreign tax settlements, and the effectiveness of its tax planning strategies in the various relevant jurisdictions. While management believes that its judgments and interpretations regarding deferred income tax assets and liabilities are appropriate, significant differences in actual experience may materially affect the future financial results of the Company.

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        Employee Retirement Plans.    The determination of the Company's obligations for certain employee retirement plans is dependent upon various assumptions, including, among others, interest rates, service periods, and future compensation levels. Management believes its assumptions are appropriate, however significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in assumptions may materially affect the Company's future financial results.

        Goodwill Impairment.    In accordance with the provisions of SFAS 142, the Company assesses the impairment of goodwill and identifiable intangible assets annually, or more often if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. This assessment is based upon a discounted cash flow analysis. The estimate of cash flow is based upon, among other things, certain assumptions about expected future operating performance and an appropriate discount rate determined by management. The Company's estimates of discounted cash flow may differ from actual cash flow due to, among other things, economic conditions, changes to its business model or changes in its operating performance. Significant differences between these estimates and actual cash flow could materially affect the future financial results of the Company. The Company's annual goodwill impairment analysis, which will be performed during the second quarter, is not expected to have a material effect on the financial statements.

        Workers' Compensation.    The Company has established reserves for workers' compensation claims based on historical loss statistics. The Company self-insures or retains a portion of the exposure for losses related to workers' compensation. It is the Company's policy to record self-insurance reserves based upon claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. While management believes that its assumptions and estimates are appropriate, significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in assumptions may materially affect the Company's future financial results.

        Stock Option Plans.    The Company has a long history of issuing stock options to employees and directors as an integral part of its compensation programs. Generally accepted accounting principles allow alternative methods of accounting for these plans. The Company has chosen to account for its stock option plans in accordance with APB 25. Under APB 25, the intrinsic value of the options is used to record compensation expense and, as a result, no compensation expense related to stock options is included in determining net income and net income per share in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. As required by SFAS 148, calculations of pro forma net income and net income per share, computed in accordance with the method prescribed by SFAS 123, are set forth in Note G to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002

        Temporary and consultant staffing services revenues were $427 million and $442 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, decreasing by 3% during the three months ended March 31, 2003 compared to the same period in 2002. Permanent placement revenues were $22 million and $26 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, decreasing by 15% during the three months ended March 31, 2003 compared to the same period in 2002. Staffing services revenue results for the three months ended March 31, 2003 were adversely impacted by weak labor markets and soft general economic conditions, particularly in the United States. Risk consulting and internal audit services revenues were $24 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003. No revenues were recorded for Protiviti during the three months ended March 31, 2002, as Protiviti began operations on May 24, 2002. We expect total company revenues to continue to be negatively impacted by general macroeconomic conditions.

        The Company's temporary and permanent staffing services business has more than 320 offices in 42 states, the District of Columbia and ten foreign countries, while Protiviti has more than 30 offices in 21 states and four foreign countries. Revenues from domestic operations represented 82% of revenues for

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both the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002. Revenues from foreign operations represented 18% of revenues for both the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002.

        Gross margin dollars from the Company's temporary and consultant staffing services represent revenues less direct costs of services, which consist of payroll, payroll taxes and insurance costs for temporary employees. Gross margin dollars from permanent placement staffing services are equal to revenues, as there are no direct costs associated with such revenues. Gross margin dollars for risk consulting and internal audit services represent revenues less direct costs of services, which consist primarily of professional staff payroll, payroll taxes, insurance costs and reimbursable expenses. Gross margin dollars for the Company's temporary and consultant staffing services were $149 million and $159 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, decreasing by 6% during the three months ended March 31, 2003 compared to the same period in 2002. Gross margin amounts equaled 35% and 36% of revenues for temporary and consultant staffing services for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The lower 2003 temporary and consulting margin percentage is primarily due to higher unemployment insurance costs. Gross margin dollars for the Company's permanent placement staffing division were $22 million and $26 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, decreasing by 15% in the three months ended March 31, 2003 compared to the same period in 2002. Gross margin dollars for the Company's risk consulting and internal audit division were negative $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003, which reflects fixed payroll costs that were not totally covered by revenues.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses were $173 million and $172 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues were 37% for both the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of staff compensation, advertising, depreciation and occupancy costs.

        For acquisitions, the Company allocates the excess of cost over the fair market value of the net tangible assets first to identifiable intangible assets, if any, and then to goodwill. The Company adopted SFAS 142 on January 1, 2002, resulting in the discontinuance of the amortization of goodwill that was being amortized over 40 years. The methods used for evaluating and measuring impairment of certain intangible assets have changed in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 142. The Company's annual goodwill impairment analysis, which will be performed during the second quarter, is not expected to have a material effect on the financial statements. Net intangible assets represented 18% of total assets and 23% of total stockholders' equity at March 31, 2003.

        Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 was $.9 million and $1.5 million, respectively, while interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 was $.1 million and $.2 million, respectively. Lower average cash balances and lower interest rates during the three months ended March 31, 2003 resulted in lower interest income.

        The provision for income taxes was 35% and 38% of income before taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        The change in the Company's liquidity during the three months ended March 31, 2003 is the net effect of funds generated by operations and the funds used for capital expenditures, the purchase of intangible assets, repurchases of common stock, and principal payments on outstanding notes payable. As of March 31, 2003, the Company has authorized the repurchase, from time to time, of up to 10.1 million additional shares of the Company's common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, depending on market conditions. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, the Company repurchased approximately 1.0 million shares of common stock on the open market for a total cost of $14 million. Additional stock repurchases were made in connection with employee stock plans,

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whereby Company shares were tendered by employees for the payment of applicable withholding taxes. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, such repurchases totaled approximately 0.5 million shares at a cost of approximately $8 million. Repurchases of securities have been funded with cash generated from operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2003, the Company generated $25 million from operations, used $15 million in investing activities and used $20 million in financing activities. This is further enumerated in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

        The Company's working capital at March 31, 2003, included $306 million in cash and cash equivalents. The Company's working capital requirements consist primarily of the financing of accounts receivable. While there can be no assurances in this regard, the Company expects that internally generated cash will be sufficient to support the working capital needs of the Company, the Company's fixed payments, and other obligations on both a short- and long-term basis. As of March 31, 2003, the Company had no material capital commitments. In connection with the formation of Protiviti, the Company became the guarantor of certain former Andersen partners' capital notes, which totaled approximately $3.2 million at March 31, 2003.

ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

        The Company's market risk sensitive instruments do not subject the Company to material market risk exposures.

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

        During the 90-day period prior to the filing date of this report, management, including the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon, and as of the date of that evaluation, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective, in all material respects, to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files and submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required.

        There have been no significant changes in the Company's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date that the Company carried out its evaluation.

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

        None

Item 2.    Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

        None

Item 3.    Defaults upon Senior Securities

        None

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

        None

Item 5.    Other Information

        None

Item 6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)

Exhibits.

(b)

The registrant filed no current reports on Form 8-K during the quarter covered by this report.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

ROBERT HALF INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Registrant)

/s/  M. KEITH WADDELL

---


M. Keith Waddell
Vice Chairman, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer and
duly authorized signatory)

Date: May 14, 2003

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Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

I, Harold M. Messmer, Jr., certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Robert Half International Inc.;

2.

Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.

The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

a)

designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b)

evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

c)

presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.

The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a)

all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and

6.

The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

        Date: May 14, 2003

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Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

I, M. Keith Waddell, certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Robert Half International Inc.;

2.

Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.

The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

a)

designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b)

evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

c)

presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.

The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a)

all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and

6.

The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

        Date: May 14, 2003

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QuickLinks

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds
Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 5. Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K