<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-04-007934
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040405
<FILING-DATE>20040413
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>VANDERCOOK R GIBBS
<CIK>0001284278
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-23940
<FILM-NUMBER>04729986
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES CORP
<STREET2>600 HART ROAD STE 300
<CITY>BARRINGTON
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60010
<PHONE>8473816701
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-05</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000920521</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALRC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001284278</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VANDERCOOK R GIBBS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>600 HART ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BARRINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60010</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec. V.P. - Service &amp; Develop</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>No Securities Beneficially Owned</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>R. Gibbs Vandercook</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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