<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-03-003838
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030717
<FILING-DATE>20030718
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES CORP
<CIK>0000920521
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7363
<IRS-NUMBER>382791069
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>100 TRI STATE INTERNATIONAL
<STREET2>STE 300
<CITY>LINCOLNSHIRE
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60069
<PHONE>8473171000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>75 TRI STATE INTERNATIONAL
<STREET2>STE 100
<CITY>LINCOLNSHIRE
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60069
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>HEATON SYDNEY N
<CIK>0001253361
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-23940
<FILM-NUMBER>03792692
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>6-- HART RD
<STREET2>STE 300
<CITY>BARRINGTON
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60010
<PHONE>847 381 6701
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>600 HART RD
<STREET2>STE 300
<CITY>BARRINGTON
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60010
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-17</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000920521</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALRC</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001253361</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEATON SYDNEY N</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.33</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-07-17</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue><value>0.33</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2003-07-17</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2003-07-17</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>132455</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes></footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Sydney N. Heaton</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-18</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
