<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-04-007969
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040405
<FILING-DATE>20040414
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LINNE TRACY
<CIK>0001282653
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-23940
<FILM-NUMBER>04731767
</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>0001282653</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LINNE TRACY</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>Senior Vice President of Sales</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>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.38</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-11-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.385</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-07-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Non-Qualified stock option grant with grant date of 11/13/2002 and an expiration date of 11/13/2012. Option vests with respect to 2,380 shares on 5/14/2003, 2,380 shares each month thereafter through 9/14/2006 and 2,420 shares on 10/14/2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Non-Qualified stock option grant with a grant date of 7/23/2003 and an expiration date of 7/23/2013. Option vests with respect to 4,760 shares on 1/24/2004, 4,760 shares each month thereafter through 5/24/2007 and 4,840 shares on 6/24/2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tracy Linne</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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