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                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.10

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                        ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES CORPORATION

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

        THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT ("AGREEMENT") is entered into as of
January 31, 2002, by and among Alternative Resources Corporation (the "COMPANY")
and Wynnchurch Capital Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and
Wynnchurch Capital Partners Canada, L.P., an Alberta, Canada limited partnership
(each, an "INVESTOR" and collectively, the "INVESTORS").

                                    RECITALS

        A.     The Investors and the Company are parties to a Securities
Purchase Agreement, of even date herewith (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), pursuant
to which, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, the Investors will
purchase from the Company (i) an aggregate of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000)
of 15% Secured Convertible Promissory Notes (the "NOTES"), which are convertible
into shares ("NOTE SHARES") of common stock, $0.01 par value per share ("COMMON
STOCK") of the Company; and (ii) warrants ("WARRANTS"), including the B-1
Warrant and the B-2 Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase up to an
aggregate of Eleven Million (11,000,000) shares of Common Stock (the "WARRANT
SHARES") upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Warrant.

        B.     To induce the Investors to execute and deliver the Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the "SECURITIES
ACT"), and applicable state securities laws.

                                   AGREEMENTS

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual
promises and covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

                                   Article I
                               REGISTRATION RIGHTS

        1.1    DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Agreement:

               (a)   "FORM S-3" means such form under the Securities Act, as in
        effect on the date hereof or any successor form under the Securities
        Act;

               (b)   "HOLDER" means any person owning or having the right to
        acquire Registrable Securities or any assignee thereof in accordance
        with Section 1.12 of this Agreement;

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               (c)   "OTHER SHARES" means at any time those shares of Common
        Stock of the Company that do not constitute Primary Shares or
        Registrable Securities;

               (d)   "PRIMARY SHARES" means at any time the authorized but
        unissued or previously issued shares of Common Stock held in the
        Company's treasury;

               (e)   "REGISTER," "REGISTERED," and "REGISTRATION" refer to a
        registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement
        or similar document in compliance with the Securities Act (including to
        provide pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor
        rule the offering of securities on a continuous basis ("RULE 415")), and
        the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration
        statement or document;

               (f)   "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means (i) the Note Shares issued
        or issuable with respect to the Notes (without regard to any limitations
        on conversion or exercise); (ii) the Warrant Shares issued or issuable
        with respect to any of the Warrants (without regard to any limitations
        on conversion or exercise); and (iii) any other shares of Common Stock
        issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant,
        right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other
        distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of,
        the shares referred to in clauses (i) and (ii); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
        the foregoing definition shall exclude in all cases any Registrable
        Securities sold by a person in a transaction in which his or her rights
        under this Agreement are not assigned. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
        Common Stock or other securities shall only be treated as Registrable
        Securities if and so long as they (A) have not been sold to or through a
        broker or dealer or underwriter in a public securities transaction, or
        (B) have not been sold in a transaction exempt from the registration and
        prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act under Section
        4(1) thereof so that all transfer restrictions, and restrictive legends
        with respect thereto, if any, are removed upon the consummation of such
        sale or (C) are not eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 without being
        subject to applicable volume and manner of sale limitations thereunder;

               (g)   "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

               (h)   Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
        shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Purchase
        Agreement.

1.2     REQUEST FOR REGISTRATION.

               (a)   If at any time, the Company shall receive a written request
        from the Holders (the "INITIATING HOLDERS") of at least a majority of
        the Registrable Securities then held by the Investors that the Company
        file a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the
        registration of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall, within
        ten (10) days of the receipt thereof, give written notice of such
        request to all remaining Holders. Each of the remaining Holders may
        request, by written notice delivered to the Company within twenty (20)
        days after the date of delivery of the Company's notice, that all or any
        portion of their Registrable Securities be included in the registration.
        Following the receipt of a request by the Initiating Holders, the
        Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to file, as soon
        as practicable and in any event within

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        forty-five (45) days of the receipt of the request from the Initiating
        Holders, the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable
        Securities which the Holders thereof have requested to be registered
        under this paragraph (a), and to use all commercially reasonable efforts
        to cause the registration statement to become effective as soon as
        practicable thereafter.

               (b)   If the Initiating Holders intend to distribute the
        Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an
        underwriting, they shall so advise the Company as a part of their
        request made pursuant to paragraph (a) and the Company shall include
        such information in the written notice to the remaining Holders referred
        to in paragraph (a). The underwriter will be selected by a majority in
        interest of the Initiating Holders and shall be reasonably acceptable to
        the Company. The right of any Holder to include his Registrable
        Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder's
        participation in such underwriting and execution of an underwriting
        agreement approved by the Initiating Holders and the inclusion of such
        Holder's Registrable Securities in the underwriting (unless otherwise
        mutually agreed by a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders and
        such Holder) to the extent provided herein.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company shall furnish to the Holders
requesting a registration statement pursuant to this Section 1.2, a certificate
signed by the President of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment
of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be materially detrimental to
the Company (including to any material proposed or planned transaction involving
the Company) and its stockholders for such registration statement to be filed
and it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such registration
statement, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of
not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of the request of the
Initiating Holders; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company may not utilize this
right more than once in any twelve month period and the Company shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to effect the filing following the expiration of
the deferral period. Once a registration statement is effective for at least
thirty (30) days, the Company may suspend use of the registration statement if
it furnishes to the Holders covered by the registration statement a certificate
signed by the President of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment
of the Board of Directors of the Company, disclosure of material information to
the public necessary to allow sales under the registration statement would be
materially detrimental to the Company (including to any material proposed or
planned transaction involving the Company) and its stockholders and that it is
therefore essential that the use of the registration statement be suspended (a
"Permitted Blackout"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that either (i) if two or more such
Permitted Blackouts are imposed during any period of twelve (12) consecutive
months or (ii) the aggregate duration of all Permitted Blackouts during any
period of twelve (12) consecutive months exceeds thirty (30) business days, the
Holders shall have the rights indicated in (c)(i) below.

               (c)   The Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take
        any action to effect, any registration pursuant to this Section 1.2:

                     (i)   If within the twelve (12) month prior to such
               registration, the Company has effected one (1) registration
               pursuant to this Section 1.2 and such registration has been
               declared or ordered effective; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any

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               such registration shall not count as a registration if: (x) the
               Company has suspended use of a registration statement with
               respect to Permitted Blackouts in excess of the limits set forth
               in the proviso within the past 12 months or (y) the registration
               request is subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Holders
               of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be registered and
               at the time of such withdrawal, the Holders have learned of a
               material adverse change in the condition, business, or prospects
               of the Company from that known to the Holders at the time of
               their request and have withdrawn the request with reasonable
               promptness following disclosure by the Company of such material
               adverse change or pursuant to the recommendation of the managing
               underwriter; or (z) the Holders requesting registration do not
               register and sell all Registrable Securities they have requested
               to be registered in such registration for reasons other than
               their voluntary decision not to do so.

                     (ii)  during the period starting with the date sixty (60)
               days prior to the Company's good faith estimate of the date of
               filing of, and ending on a date one hundred eighty (180) days
               after the effective date of, a registration subject to Section
               1.3 hereof; provided that during such period the Company is
               actively employing in good faith its reasonable efforts to cause
               such registration statement to become effective; or

                     (iii) if the Initiating Holders propose to dispose of
               shares of Registrable Securities which at such time are eligible
               to be registered on Form S-3 pursuant to a request made pursuant
               to Section 1.4.

               (d)   With respect to any registration pursuant to this Section
        1.2, the Company may include in such registration any Primary Shares and
        Other Shares; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if any managing underwriter for
        the public offering contemplated by such registration advises the
        Company in writing that, in such firm's good faith opinion, the
        inclusion of all Primary Shares and Other Shares proposed to be included
        in such registration would adversely affect the offering and sale
        (including pricing) of all such securities, then the number of
        Registrable Securities, Primary Shares and Other Shares proposed to be
        included in such registration shall be included in the following order:

                     (i)   FIRST, the Registrable Securities held by Investors,
               pro rata based upon the number of Registrable Securities owned by
               each Investor at the time of such registration; and

                     (ii)  SECOND, Primary Shares and any Other Shares.

        1.3    COMPANY REGISTRATION. If (but without any obligation to do so)
the Company proposes to register Primary Shares under the Securities Act in
connection with the public offering of such securities solely for cash (other
than a registration relating solely to the sale of securities to participants in
a Company stock plan or a corporate reorganization or other transaction covered
by Rule 145 under the Securities Act, or any registration on any form which does
not include substantially the same information as would be required to be
included in a registration statement covering the sale of the Registrable
Securities held by the Holders), the

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Company shall, at such time, promptly give each Holder written notice of such
registration. Upon the written request of each Holder given within fifteen (15)
days after mailing of such notice by the Company, the Company shall, subject to
the provisions of Section 1.8, cause to be registered under the Securities Act
all of the Registrable Securities that each such Holder has requested to be
registered; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if any managing underwriter for the public
offering contemplated by such registration advises the Company in writing that,
in such firm's good faith opinion, the inclusion of all Registrable Securities
and Primary Shares or Other Shares proposed to be included in such registration
would adversely affect the offering and sale (including pricing) of all such
securities, then the number of Registrable Securities, Primary Shares and Other
Shares proposed to be included in such registration shall be included in the
following order:

               (i)   FIRST, the Primary Shares;

               (ii)  SECOND, the Registrable Securities held by the Investors
        requesting registration, PRO RATA based upon the number of Registrable
        Securities owned by each such Investor at the time of such registration;
        and

               (iii) THIRD, any Other Shares.

        1.4    FORM S-3 REGISTRATION.

               (a)   In case the Company shall receive from one or more
        Investors, a written request or requests that the Company effect a
        registration on Form S-3 with respect to an aggregate of at least
        500,000 shares of Registerable Securities (as may be appropriately
        adjusted for stock splits, reverse stock splits, combinations or other
        similar events) all or a part of the Registrable Securities owned by
        such Investors, the Company will promptly give written notice of the
        proposed registration to all other Holders, and as soon as practicable,
        effect such registration as may be so requested and as would permit or
        facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such
        Investors' Registrable Securities as are specified in such request,
        together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of any
        other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in a
        written request given within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such
        written notice from the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company
        shall not be obligated to effect any such registration, qualification or
        compliance, pursuant to this Section 1.4: (i) if Form S-3 is not
        available for such offering by the Holders; (ii) if the Company shall
        furnish to the Holders a certificate signed by the President of the
        Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of
        Directors of the Company, it would be materially detrimental to the
        Company (including to any material proposed or planned material
        transaction involving the Company) and its stockholders for such Form
        S-3 Registration to be effected at such time, in which event the Company
        shall have the right to defer the filing of the Form S-3 registration
        statement for a period of not more than 120 days after receipt of the
        request of the Holder or Holders under this Section 1.4(a); provided,
        however, that the Company shall not utilize this right more than once in
        any twelve-month period; (iii) if the Company has, within the twelve
        (12) month period preceding the date of such request, already effected
        two (2) registrations on Form S-3 for the Holders pursuant to this
        Section 1.4; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a registration shall not count

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        as a registration if: (x) the Company has exceeded its number or amount
        of Permitted Blackouts in the prior twelve months or (y) the
        registration request is subsequently withdrawn at the request of the
        Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be registered and
        at the time of such withdrawal, the Holders have learned of a material
        adverse change in the condition, business, or prospects of the Company
        from that known to the Holders at the time of their request and have
        withdrawn the request with reasonable promptness following disclosure by
        the Company of such material adverse change or pursuant to the
        recommendation of the managing underwriter; or (z) the Holders
        requesting registration do not register and sell all Registrable
        Securities they have requested to be registered in such registration for
        reasons other than their voluntary decision not to do so; iv) in any
        particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to
        qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service of
        process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance; or
        (v) during the period ending one hundred eighty (180) days after the
        effective date of a registration statement subject to Section 1.2 or
        Section 1.3. Once a registration statement has been made effective under
        this Section for at least thirty (30) consecutive days, the Company may
        suspend use of the registration statement if it furnishes to the Holders
        covered by the registration statement a certificate signed by the
        President of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the
        Board of Directors of the Company that it is entitled to use a Permitted
        Blackout.

               (b)   Subject to the foregoing, the Company shall file a
        registration statement covering the Registrable Securities and other
        securities so requested to be registered as soon as reasonably
        practicable after receipt of the request or requests of the Holders.
        Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 1.4 shall not be counted
        as demands for registration or registrations effected pursuant to
        Sections 1.2 or 1.3, respectively.

               (c)   With respect to any registration pursuant to this Section
        1.4, the Company may include in such registration any Registrable
        Securities held by the Investors or Other Shares; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
        that if any managing underwriter for the public offering contemplated by
        such registration advises the Company in writing that, in such firm's
        good faith opinion, the inclusion of all such shares proposed to be
        included in such registration would adversely affect the offering and
        sale (including pricing) of all such securities, then the number of
        Registrable Securities and Other Shares proposed to be included in such
        registration shall be included in the following order:

                     (i)   FIRST, the Registrable Securities held by the
               Investors requesting registration, pro rata based upon the number
               of Registrable Securities owned by each such Investor at the time
               of such registration; and

                     (ii)  SECOND, any Other Shares.

        1.5    OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY. Whenever it is required under this
Article I to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company
shall, as expeditiously as reasonably practicable:

               (a)   Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with
        respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially
        reasonable efforts to cause such

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        registration statement to become effective (provided that a reasonable
        time before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any
        amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to the
        counsel selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
        Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all such
        documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the
        review and comment of such counsel), and, upon the request of the
        Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered
        thereunder, keep such registration statement effective for up to one
        hundred eighty (180) days or if earlier, until completion of the
        distribution; PROVIDED HOWEVER, that such 180-day period shall be
        extended for a period of time equal to the period the Holder refrains
        from selling any securities included in such registration at the request
        of an underwriter of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company.

               (b)   Use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file
        with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration
        statement and the prospectus used in connection with such registration
        statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the
        Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered
        by such registration statement for up to one hundred eighty (180) days.

               (c)   Furnish to the Holders such numbers of copies of a
        prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the
        requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they may
        reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable
        Securities owned by them.

               (d)   Use its commercially reasonable efforts to register and
        qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such
        other securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be
        reasonably requested by the Holders, PROVIDED that the Company shall not
        be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify
        to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any
        such states or jurisdictions unless the Company is already subject to
        service in such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Act.

               (e)   In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter
        into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in
        usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter of such
        offering. Each Holder participating in such underwriting shall also
        enter into and perform its obligations under such an agreement.

               (f)   Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by
        such registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating
        thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the
        happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in
        such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue
        statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required
        to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
        misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing, such
        obligation to continue for one hundred twenty (120) days thereafter.

               (g)   Cause all such Registrable Securities registered hereunder
        to be listed on each securities exchange or market on which similar
        securities issued by the Company are then listed, and if not so listed
        and to the extent the Company is eligible for listing, to

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        be listed on a nationally recognized exchange or the NASDAQ National
        Market ("NASDAQ") and, if listed on the NASDAQ, use its commercially
        reasonable efforts to secure designation of all such Registrable
        Securities covered by such registration statement as a NASDAQ "national
        market system security" within the meaning of Rule 11Aa2-1 of the SEC
        or, failing that, to use reasonable efforts to arrange for at least two
        market makers to register as such with respect to such Registrable
        Securities.

               (h)   Provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable
        Securities registered pursuant hereunder and a CUSIP number for all such
        Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective date
        of such registration.

               (i)   Make available for inspection by any underwriter
        participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement
        (or if there is no underwriter, any Company "Affiliate" (as defined in
        Rule 405 under the Securities Act) who is a seller of Registrable
        Securities) and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any
        such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent
        corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause the
        Company's officers, directors, employees and independent accountants to
        supply all information reasonably requested by such seller, underwriter,
        attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration
        statement.

               (j)   Permit any Holder of Registrable Securities, which Holder
        in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter
        or a controlling person of the Company, to participate in the
        preparation of such registration or comparable statement and to require
        the insertion therein of material, furnished to the Company in writing,
        which in the reasonable judgment of such Holder and its counsel should
        be included.

               (k)   In the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending
        the effectiveness of a registration statement, or of any order
        suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending
        the qualification of any Common Stock included in such registration
        statement for sale in any jurisdiction, the Company shall use its
        commercially reasonable efforts to promptly obtain the withdrawal of
        such order.

               (l)   Obtain (i) a cold comfort letter from the Company's
        independent public accountants in customary form and covering matters of
        the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters as the underwriters
        to such offering reasonably request, dated as of the date that such
        Registrable Securities are being delivered to the underwriters for sale
        in connection with a registration pursuant to this Agreement, if such
        securities are being sold through underwriters, or, if such securities
        are not being sold through underwriters, on the date that the
        registration statement with respect to such securities becomes
        effective, and (ii) an opinion, dated such date, of the counsel
        representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, in form
        and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten
        public offering, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and to the
        Holders participating in the registration of Registrable Securities.

        1.6    FURNISH INFORMATION. It shall be a condition precedent to the
obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Article I with
respect to the Registrable Securities of any selling Holder that such Holder
shall furnish to the Company such information regarding

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itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of
disposition of such securities as shall be required to effect the registration
of such Holder's Registrable Securities or such other information as the Company
may reasonably request. The Company shall have no obligation with respect to any
registration requested pursuant to Section 1.2 or Section 1.4 of this Agreement
if, as a result of the application of the preceding sentence, the number of
shares or the anticipated aggregate offering price of the Registrable Securities
to be included in the registration does not equal or exceed the number of shares
or the anticipated aggregate offering price required to originally trigger the
Company's obligation to initiate such registration as specified in Section
1.2(a) or Section 1.4(a), whichever is applicable.

        1.7    EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION. All expenses other than underwriting
discounts and commissions incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Section 1.2, including (without limitation) all
registration, filing and qualification fees, printers' and accounting fees, fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Company, and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of one counsel for the selling Investors selected by them shall be
borne by the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required
to pay for any expenses of any registration proceeding begun pursuant to Section
1.2, 1.3 or 1.4 if the registration request is subsequently withdrawn at the
request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be
registered (in which case all participating Holders shall bear such expenses),
unless the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities agree to forfeit
their right to one demand registration pursuant to Section 1.2; PROVIDED
FURTHER, that if at the time of such withdrawal, the Holders have learned of a
material adverse change in the condition, business, or prospects of the Company
from that known to the Holders at the time of their request and have withdrawn
the request with reasonable promptness following disclosure by the Company of
such material adverse change or pursuant to the recommendation of the managing
underwriter, then the Holders shall not be required to pay any of such expenses
and shall retain their rights pursuant to Section 1.2, 1.3 or 1.4, as the case
may be.

        1.8    UNDERWRITING REQUIREMENTS. In connection with any offering
involving an underwriting of shares of the Company's capital stock, the Company
shall not be required under Section 1.3 to include any of the Holders'
securities in such underwriting unless they accept the terms of the underwriting
as agreed upon between the Company and the underwriters selected by it (or by
other persons entitled to select the underwriters pursuant to Section 1.2), and
then only in such quantity as the underwriters determine in their sole
discretion will not jeopardize the success of the offering by the Company. If
the total amount of securities, including Registrable Securities, requested by
stockholders to be included in such offering exceeds the amount of securities
sold other than by the Company that the underwriters determine in their sole
discretion is compatible with the success of the offering, then the Company
shall be required to include in the offering only that number of such
securities, including Registrable Securities, which the underwriters determine
in their sole discretion will not jeopardize the success of the offering (the
securities so included to be apportioned pro rata among the selling stockholders
according to the total amount of securities entitled to be included therein
owned by each selling Holder or in such other proportions as shall mutually be
agreed to by such selling Holders) but in no event shall the amount of
securities of the selling Holders included in the offering be reduced below
twenty five percent (25%) of the total amount of securities included in such
offering. For purposes of the preceding parenthetical concerning apportionment,
for any selling Holder which is a partnership or corporation, the partners,
retired partners and stockholders of such holder, or the estates and

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family members of any such partners and retired partners and any trusts for the
benefit of any of the foregoing persons shall be deemed to be a single "selling
Holder," and any pro-rata reduction with respect to such "selling Holder" shall
be based upon the aggregate amount of shares carrying registration rights owned
by all entities and individuals included in such "selling Holder," as defined in
this sentence.

        1.9    DELAY OF REGISTRATION. No Holder shall have any right to obtain
or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any such registration as
the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the
interpretation or implementation of this Article I.

        1.10   INDEMNIFICATION. In the event any Registrable Securities are
included in a registration statement under this Article I:

               (a)   To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify
        and hold harmless each Holder, any underwriter (as defined in the
        Securities Act) for such Holder and each person, if any, who controls
        such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or
        the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"),
        against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several)
        to which they may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange
        Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims,
        damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or
        are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations
        (collectively a "VIOLATION"): (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
        statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement,
        including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained
        therein or any amendments or supplements thereto, (ii) the omission or
        alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
        therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
        (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the
        Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule
        or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or
        any state securities law; and the Company will pay to each such Holder,
        underwriter or controlling person, as incurred, any legal or other
        expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
        defending any such loss, claim, damage or liability; provided, however,
        that the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph (a) shall not
        apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage or
        liability if such settlement is effected without the consent of the
        Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), nor shall
        the Company be liable to any Holder, underwriter or controlling person
        for any such loss, claim, damage or liability to the extent that it
        arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon
        and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for use
        in connection with such registration by any such Holder, underwriter or
        controlling person.

               (b)   To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder will
        indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of
        its officers who has signed the registration statement, each person, if
        any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act,
        any underwriter, any other Holder selling securities in such
        registration statement and any controlling person of any such
        underwriter or other Holder, against any losses, claims, damages, or
        liabilities (joint or several) to which any of the foregoing persons may
        become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act

                                       10
<Page>

        or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims,
        damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) arise out of
        or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only
        to the extent) that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in
        conformity with written information furnished by such Holder expressly
        for use in connection with such registration; and each such Holder
        will pay, as incurred, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
        by any person intended to be indemnified pursuant to this paragraph
        (b), in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
        claim, damage or liability; provided, however, that the indemnity
        agreement contained in this paragraph (b) shall not apply to amounts
        paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage or liability if
        such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which
        consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, that in no event
        shall any indemnity under this paragraph (b) exceed the net proceeds
        from the offering received by such Holder, except in the case of
        willful fraud by such Holder.

               (c)   Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
        Section 1.10 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any
        governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
        thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section
        1.10, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the
        commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to
        participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires,
        jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume
        the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties;
        provided, however, that an indemnified party (together with all other
        indemnified parties which may be represented without conflict by one
        counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel, with the
        reasonable fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if
        the representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by
        the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
        differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party
        represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver
        written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the
        commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend
        such action, shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to
        the indemnified party under this Section 1.10, but the omission to so
        deliver written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of
        any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than
        under this Section 1.10.

               (d)   If the indemnification provided for in this Section 1.10 is
        held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an
        indemnified party with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage or
        expense referred to therein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of
        indemnifying such indemnified party hereunder, shall contribute to the
        amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such
        loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense in such proportion as is
        appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on
        the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other in connection
        with the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, liability,
        claim, damage or expense as well as any other relevant equitable
        considerations; provided, that in no event shall any contribution by a
        Holder under this paragraph (d) exceed the net proceeds from the
        offering received by such Holder, except in the case of willful fraud by
        such Holder. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the
        indemnified party

                                       11
<Page>

        shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
        untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission
        to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
        indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties'
        relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to
        correct or prevent such statement or omission.

               (e)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the
        provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the
        underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten
        public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the
        provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

               (f)   The obligations of the Company and Holders under this

        Section 1.10 shall survive the completion of any offering of
        Registrable Securities in a registration statement under this Article
        I, and otherwise.

        1.11   REPORTS UNDER SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. With a view to
making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the
Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time
permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without
registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3, the Company agrees to:

               (a)   make and keep public information available, as those terms
        are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, so long as the Company
        remains subject to the periodic reporting requirements under Sections 13
        or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

               (b)   take such action, including the voluntary registration of
        its Common Stock under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as is necessary
        to enable the Holders to utilize Form S-3 for the sale of their
        Registrable Securities, such action to be taken as soon as practicable;

               (c)   file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
        documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the
        Exchange Act; and

               (d)   furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any
        Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (i) a written statement
        by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of
        SEC Rule 144 (at any time after ninety (90) days after the effective
        date of the first registration statement filed by the Company), the
        Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become
        subject to such reporting requirements), or that it qualifies as a
        registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any
        time after it so qualifies), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or
        quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so
        filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be
        reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of
        the SEC which permits the selling of any such securities without
        registration or pursuant to such form.

        1.12   ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. In the event a Holder desires
to assign all or a portion of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder,
the rights to cause the Company to register Registrable Securities pursuant to
this Article 1 may be assigned (but only with all

                                       12
<Page>

related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or assignee of such securities
which (a) is a subsidiary, parent, general partner, limited partner, retired
partner, member, retired member or affiliate of a Holder, (b) is a Holder's
family member or trust for the benefit of an individual Holder, or (c) acquires
at least 500,000 Shares of the Registrable Securities (as may be appropriately
adjusted for stock splits, reverse stock splits, combinations or other similar
events); provided, however, (i) the transferor shall, within ten (10) days after
such transfer, furnish to the Company written notice of the name and address of
such transferee or assignee and the securities with respect to which such
registration rights are being assigned, (ii) such transferee shall agree to be
subject to all restrictions set forth in this Agreement; and (iii) such
transferee is not a person deemed by the Board, in its reasonable judgment, to
be a competitor or potential competitor of the Company. Each Holder agrees to
cause any transferee of any shares of Registrable Securities to be bound by this
Section 1.12.

        1.13   LIMITATIONS ON SUBSEQUENT REGISTRATION RIGHTS. From and after the
date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent
of the Holders of a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities held by
the Investors, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of
any securities of the Company which would provide such holder or prospective
holder registration rights PARI PASSU or superior to those granted to the
Investors hereunder.

                                   Article II
                                    GENERAL

        2.1    SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding
upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the
parties hereto.

        2.2    ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the other documents
delivered pursuant hereto constitute the full and entire understanding and
agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof,
and this Agreement shall supersede and cancel all prior agreements between the
parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof.

        2.3    NOTICES, ETC. All notices and other communications required or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sent via facsimile, e-mail,
overnight courier service or mailed by certified or registered mail, postage
prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed or sent in the manner set forth in
the Purchase Agreement.

        2.4    SEVERABILITY. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be
invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.

        2.5    TITLES AND SUBTITLES. The titles of the sections and subsections
of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be
considered in construing this Agreement.

        2.6    COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one instrument.

                                       13
<Page>

        2.7    WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may be waived, amended or
supplemented by the written consent of (a) the Company and (b) the Holders of at
least a majority of the Registrable Securities.

        2.8    FURTHER INSTRUMENTS. The parties agree to execute such further
instruments and to take such further action as may reasonably be necessary to
carry out the intent of this Agreement.

        2.9    GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois applicable to
contracts made and to be performed in the State of Illinois. The parties hereto
irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the United States federal courts
located in the State of Illinois and the State Courts in the County of Cook in
the State of Illinois in any suit or proceeding based on or arising under this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and irrevocably agree that all
claims in respect of such suit or proceeding may be determined in such courts.
The Company irrevocably waives the defense of an inconvenient forum to the
maintenance of such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees that service
of process upon the Company mailed by the first class mail shall be deemed in
every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any suit or
proceeding arising hereunder. Nothing herein shall affect the Investors' right
to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. The parties hereto agree
that a final non-appealable judgment in any such suit or proceeding shall be
conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on such judgment
or in any other lawful manner.

        2.10   SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The Company agrees and acknowledges that
any violation or breach of its covenants, agreements and undertakings contained
in this Agreement shall cause Investors' irreversible injury and, in addition to
any other right or remedy available to a party at law or in equity, an Investor
shall be entitled to enforcement by court injunction for specific performance of
the obligations of the other party hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence, nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting a party from also
pursuing any other rights, remedies or defenses, for such breach or threatened
breach, including receiving damages and attorneys' fees. The election of any
remedy shall not be construed as a waiver on the part of any party of any rights
such party might otherwise have at law or in equity. Said rights and remedies
shall be cumulative.

        2.11   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE
LAW WHICH CANNOT BE WAIVED, EACH OF THE COMPANY AND INVESTORS HEREBY WAIVES AND
COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR
OTHERWISE), ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY FORUM IN RESPECT OF ANY ISSUE,
CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER INVESTMENT AGREEMENT OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF OR
THEREOF OR ANY OBLIGATION HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH
OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE HOLDERS OF SECURITIES OR THE
COMPANY OR ANY OF THEM IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE, IN EACH CASE WHETHER
NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR
OTHERWISE. EACH OF THE INVESTORS AND THE COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 2.11 CONSTITUTE A MATERIAL

                                       14
<Page>

INDUCEMENT UPON WHICH EACH OF THE INVESTORS AND THE COMPANY HAVE RELIED, ARE
RELYING AND WILL RELY IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND EACH OF THE RELATED
AGREEMENTS. Investors or the Company may file an original counterpart or a copy
of this Section 2.11 with any court as written evidence of the consent of the
parties hereto to the waiver of their respective right to trial by jury

                         [SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

                                       15
<Page>

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereby have executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.

                                              COMPANY:

                                              ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES CORPORATION

                                              By: /s/ Steven Purcell
                                                  ------------------------------

                                              Its:    Chief Financial Officer

                                              INVESTORS:

                                              WYNNCHURCH CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.

                                              By: /s/ John Hatherly
                                                  ------------------------------

                                              Its:    President

                                              WYNNCHURCH CAPITAL PARTNERS
                                              CANADA, L.P.

                                              By: /s/ John Hatherly
                                                  ------------------------------

                                              Its:    President

                                       16<Page>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.11

                    SUBORDINATION AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

        This SUBORDINATION AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT dated as of January 31,
2002 is by and among WYNNCHURCH CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P. ("Wynnchurch Capital"),
WYNNCHURCH CAPITAL PARTNERS CANADA, L.P. ("Wynnchurch Canada"), ALTERNATIVE
RESOURCES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("ARC"), ARC SERVICE, INC., a
Delaware corporation ("Service"), ARC SOLUTIONS, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Solutions), ARC MIDHOLDING, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Midholding"),
WRITERS INC., a California corporation ("Writers"), and FLEET CAPITAL
CORPORATION ("FCC").

                                   WITNESSETH:

        WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, ARC, Service, Solutions, Midholding and
Writers are entering into a Credit and Security Agreement with FCC; and

        WHEREAS, as security for their obligations to FCC under the Credit and
Security Agreement, ARC, Service, Solutions, Midholding and Writers are granting
to FCC first priority liens on and security interests in substantially all of
their assets and properties; and

        WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, ARC is issuing its Senior Subordinated
Secured Convertible Promissory Notes due January 31, 2009 to Wynnchurch Capital
and Wynnchurch Canada (collectively, "Wynnchurch"), and Service, Solutions,
Midholding and Writers are executing and delivering to Wynnchurch a Guaranty
(the "Subordinated Guaranty") with respect to ARC's obligations in respect of
such Notes; and

        WHEREAS, as security for the obligations of ARC, Service, Solutions,
Midholding and Writers in respect the Senior Subordinated Secured Convertible
Promissory Notes and the Subordinated Guaranty, ARC, Service, Solutions,
Midholding and Writers are granting to Wynnchurch, second priority liens on and
security interests in substantially all of their assets and properties; and

        WHEREAS, FCC and Wynnchurch desire to enter into this Agreement (i) to
set forth the relative priorities of the interests of the parties in the assets
and properties of ARC, Service, Solutions, Midholding and Writers and all
products and proceeds thereof, (ii) to provide for the orderly realization,
collection, liquidation and disposition of such assets, properties, products and
proceeds, and (iii) to agree upon various matters related thereto;

        NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual benefits accruing to the
parties hereunder and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree
as follows:

        1.   DEFINITIONS.

        As used above and elsewhere in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the meanings ascribed to them below:

             1.1.  "Agreement" means this Subordination and Intercreditor
Agreement, as the same may be modified, amended, supplemented or restated from
time to time.

             1.2.  "Borrowers" means, collectively, ARC, Service, Solutions,
Midholding and Writers, together with their respective successors and assigns
and any additional subsidiaries of any of the

<Page>

foregoing that become "Borrowers" under the Senior Credit Agreement or
guarantors of the obligations of the Borrowers under the Senior Credit
Agreement.

             1.3.  "Collateral" means all of the property and assets, real or
personal, tangible or intangible, now or hereafter owned or acquired by the
Borrowers, including, without limitation, all stock, instruments and other
securities of any Borrower held by any other Borrower.

             1.4.  "Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" under the
Senior Credit Agreement.

             1.5.  "FCC Senior Credit Agreement" means the Credit and Security
Agreement dated as of January 31, 2002 by and among the Borrowers and FCC, as
the same may be modified, amended, extended, supplemented or restated from time
to time, subject to the provisions of Section 9(a) hereof.

             1.6.  "Refinanced Senior Credit Agreement" means any credit, loan
or other agreement entered into by any one or more of the Borrowers with any
Senior Creditor in connection with any refinancing or replacement of the Senior
Obligations under the FCC Senior Credit Agreement or in connection with any
refinancing or replacement of any other Refinanced Senior Credit Agreement
provided that such Refinanced Senior Credit Agreement complies with the
provisions of Section 9(b) hereof.

             1.7.  "Reorganization" means any voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, winding-up, total or partial liquidation or reorganization, or
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other statutory or common law
proceedings or arrangements involving the Borrowers or the readjustment of their
liabilities or any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshalling of
their assets or liabilities.

             1.8.  "Senior Creditor" means FCC, together with its successors and
assigns, and any other bank, financial institution or other entity that
refinances or replaces or from time to time holds any of the Senior Obligations.

             1.9.  "Senior Credit Agreement" means (a) the FCC Senior Credit
Agreement, and (b) any Refinanced Senior Credit Agreement.

             1.10. "Senior Obligations" means (a) all indebtedness, obligations
and liabilities of the Borrowers to FCC under the FCC Senior Credit Agreement or
otherwise, whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether direct, indirect,
absolute or contingent, due or to become due, including, without limitation, the
principal amount of all Loans and Letter of Credit reimbursement obligations
outstanding from time to time under the FCC Senior Credit Agreement, and all
interest, fees, expenses, indemnification obligations and other amounts from
time to time owing under the FCC Senior Credit Agreement, and all other
indebtedness, liabilities or obligations from time to time owing from the
Borrowers to FCC, and (b) all indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of the
Borrowers to any one or more Senior Creditors, or their successors and assigns,
hereafter incurred under any Refinanced Senior Credit Agreement. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, (i) the Senior Obligations shall
expressly include all interest which may accrue in respect of any Senior
Obligations after the commencement by or against any Borrower of any
Reorganization, and (ii) unless the Subordinated Creditors otherwise consent in
writing, the aggregate amount of Senior Obligations with respect to which the
Subordinated Obligations shall be subordinated shall be limited to $33,000,000
in principal (the "Subordination Limit"), plus interest, fees costs and
expenses.

                                       2
<Page>

             1.11. "Subordinated Creditors" means Wynnchurch Capital and
Wynnchurch Canada, together with their successors, assigns and affiliates, and
any other holder from time to time of all or any portion of the Subordinated
Obligations.

             1.12. "Subordinated Note and Warrant Documents" means,
collectively, the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of January 31, 2002 by
and between ARC and Wynnchurch, the Subordinated Notes, the Guaranty, the Stock
Purchase Warrants issued by ARC in favor of Wynnchurch and all other
instruments, agreements and documents executed or delivered by ARC or any of the
other Borrowers to Wynnchurch in connection with the foregoing, as the same may
be assigned or transferred to one or more Subordinated Creditors.

             1.13. "Subordinated Notes" means, collectively, the Senior
Subordinated Secured Convertible Promissory Notes due January 31, 2009 issued by
ARC to Wynnchurch in the original face principal amount of $10,000,000, together
with all additional notes from time to time issued to Wynnchurch or any other
Subordinated Creditor as payment for, or in replacement of, such Notes.

             1.14. "Subordinated Obligations" means all monetary obligations or
liabilities for the payment of money from time to time owing from ARC or any of
the other Borrowers to Wynnchurch or any other Subordinated Creditor in respect
of the Subordinated Note and Warrant Documents or otherwise, whether now
existing or hereafter arising, whether direct, indirect, absolute or contingent,
due or to become due, including, without limitation, (a) the principal amount of
the Subordinated Notes and all interest, fees, expenses and other amounts from
time to time owing in respect of the Subordinated Notes, (b) any obligations to
repurchase or redeem for cash, or otherwise make cash payments in respect of the
Subordinated Notes or in respect of any stock, warrants, instruments or other
securities issued under or in respect of any of the Subordinated Note and
Warrant Documents, (c) any obligations to pay management or advisory fees or
other fees or compensation to Wynnchurch or any other Subordinated Creditor
(other than ordinary course fees for advisory services that have been approved
in writing by the Senior Creditor), and (d) any and all other monetary
obligations or liabilities for the payment of money (including indemnification
and reimbursement obligations) of any or all of the Borrowers to Wynnchurch or
any other Subordinated Creditor under or in respect of any of the Subordinated
Note and Warrant Documents or in respect of any other indebtedness, liabilities
or obligations of the Borrowers to the Subordinated Creditors.

        2.   TERMS OF SUBORDINATION.

             2.1.  NO TRANSFER. The Subordinated Creditors will not transfer,
sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Subordinated Obligations except to a
Person who agrees to become a party hereto.

             2.2.  PAYMENT SUBORDINATED. Anything in this Agreement or the
Subordinated Note and Warrant Documents notwithstanding, the payment of the
Subordinated Obligations is and shall be expressly subordinate and junior in
right of payment and, as provided in section 6 hereof, exercise of remedies, to
the prior payment in full of the Senior Obligations to the extent and in the
manner provided herein, and the Subordinated Obligations are hereby subordinated
as a claim against the Borrowers or any of the assets of the Borrowers, whether
such claim be (a) in connection with any Reorganization, or (b) other than in
connection with a Reorganization, to the prior payment in full of the Senior
Obligations. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Borrowers agree that they will
not make, and the holders of Subordinated Obligations each agree that they will
not accept or receive, any payment of Subordinated Obligations, including,
without limitation, any payment received through the exercise of any right of
setoff, counterclaim or crossclaim, until all of the Senior Obligations have
been paid in full or provision

                                       3
<Page>

made for the full payment thereof in cash, except to the extent such payment is
permitted by section 2.6 hereof.

             2.3.  DISTRIBUTIONS IN REORGANIZATION. In the event of any
Reorganization relative to the Borrowers or their properties, then all of the
Senior Obligations shall first be paid in full in cash before any payment is
made in respect of the Subordinated Obligations, and in any such proceedings any
payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or
securities, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the Subordinated
Obligations shall be paid or delivered directly to the Senior Creditor for
application in payment of the Senior Obligations, unless and until all such
Senior Obligations shall have been paid or satisfied in full, and each
Subordinated Creditor does hereby authorize the Senior Creditor to accept and
receipt for any payment or distribution and to apply such payment or
distribution to the payment of the then unpaid Senior Obligations, and to do any
and all things and to execute all instruments necessary to effectuate the
foregoing. In the event that, upon any such Reorganization, any payment or
distribution of assets of the Borrowers of any kind or character, whether in
cash, property or securities, shall be received by any holder of Subordinated
Obligations before all of the Senior Obligations are paid in full, such payment
or distribution shall be immediately paid over to the Senior Creditor for
application to the payment of all Senior Obligations remaining unpaid until all
such Senior Obligations shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any
concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Obligations.

             2.4.  EFFECT OF PROVISIONS. The provisions hereof are solely for
the purpose of defining the relative rights of the holders of Senior Obligations
on the one hand, and the holders of Subordinated Obligations on the other hand,
and none of such provisions shall impair, as between the Borrowers and any
holder of the Subordinated Obligations, the obligations of the Borrowers, which
are unconditional and absolute, to pay to such holder all of the Subordinated
Obligations in accordance with the terms thereof nor, except as provided in
section 6 below, shall any such provisions prevent any holder of Subordinated
Obligations from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law
or under the terms of such Subordinated Obligations upon a default thereunder,
subject to the rights, if any, of holders of Senior Obligations under the
provisions of this Agreement.

             2.5.  SUBROGATION, ETC. Subject to the payment in full of all
Senior Obligations, the holders of the Subordinated Obligations shall be
subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Obligations to receive
payments or distributions of assets of the Borrowers made on the Senior
Obligations until the Subordinated Obligations shall be paid in full and, for
the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of
Senior Obligations of any cash, property or securities to which the holders of
the Subordinated Obligations would be entitled except for the provisions of this
Agreement, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement to
the holders of Senior Obligations, by the holders of the Subordinated
Obligations, shall, as between the Borrowers, the creditors of the Borrowers
(other than the holders of Senior Obligations) and the holders of the
Subordinated Obligations, be deemed to be a payment by the Borrowers to or on
account of Senior Obligations; it being understood that the provisions of this
Agreement are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative
rights of the holders of the Subordinated Obligations on the one hand, and the
holders of Senior Obligations on the other hand.

             2.6.  PERMITTED PAYMENTS.

             (a)   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, so
long as (i) no Payment Default exists, (ii) no Blockage Period shall be
continuing, and (iii) no Event of Default shall result from the making of such
payment, ARC may pay or cause to be paid to Wynnchurch and any other
Subordinated Creditor, and Wynnchurch and any other Subordinated Creditor may
accept and retain regularly scheduled quarterly payments of interest but no
principal in respect of the Subordinated Notes

                                       4
<Page>

on the dates and in the amounts provided for in the Subordinated Notes (as in
effect on the date hereof); provided that so long as the FCC Senior Credit
Agreement shall remain in effect in no event shall the aggregate amount of
interest payments made in respect of the Subordinated Notes during any calendar
quarter beginning with the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2002 and ending
with the calendar quarter ending December 31, 2005 exceed 1.875% of the
outstanding principal balance of the Subordinated Notes without the prior
written consent of the Senior Creditor, except that if (A) the Senior Creditor
has received a Compliance Certificate indicating that the Borrowers are in
compliance with Section 8.10(b) of the FCC Senior Credit Agreement for the
period from January 1, 2002 through June 30, 2002 or any other two consecutive
fiscal quarters following the Effective Time, (B) no Payment Default exists, (C)
no Blockage Period shall have commenced and be continuing, (D) no Event of
Default shall result from the making of such payment, and (E) prior to such
payment, the Borrowers shall have delivered evidence to the Senior Creditor that
after giving effect to such payment, Excess Availability (as defined in the
Senior Credit Agreement) shall equal or exceed $5,000,000, the aggregate amount
of interest payments made in respect of the Subordinated Notes during any
calendar quarter may total up to (x) 4.50% of the outstanding principal balance
of the Subordinated Notes PLUS (y) the amount of prior interest payments that
were not paid as a result of the prior existence of a Payment Default or prior
commencement of a Blockage Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set
forth herein, beginning with the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2006, so
long as no Payment Default exists, no Blockage Period shall have commenced and
be continuing, and no Event of Default shall result from the making of such
payment, ARC may pay or cause to be paid to Wynnchurch and any other
Subordinated Creditor, and Wynnchurch and any other Subordinated Creditors may
accept and retain, scheduled quarterly payments of interest but no principal in
respect of the Subordinated Notes on the dates and in the amounts provided for
in the Subordinated Notes (as in effect on the date hereof). If Wynnchurch or
any other holder of the Subordinated Indebtedness receives payment from the
Borrowers pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 2.6(a), such payment
shall be deemed to constitute a representation of the Borrowers to the Senior
Creditor and to the Subordinated Creditors that no Event of Default exists, and
that such payment is permitted to be paid by the Borrowers under this Agreement;
and the Subordinated Creditors shall be entitled to keep and retain such payment
unless prior to the Subordinated Creditors' receipt of such payment there shall
occur a Payment Default or the Senior Creditor shall have sent a Blockage Notice
to the Subordinated Creditors, in which case the Subordinated Creditors shall
forthwith deliver such payment or an amount of cash equal thereto to the Senior
Creditor for application in payment of the Senior Obligations. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Senior Creditor shall not be
entitled to block payments pursuant to the delivery of Blockage Notices
hereunder for more than 180 days during any 360 day period or commence more than
three Blockage Periods during the term of this Agreement.

             (b)   For purposes hereof, the terms:

                   (i)   "Payment Default" shall mean any failure by the
        Borrowers to pay any principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any
        Senior Obligations or any fee or other amount owing to the Senior
        Creditor when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or
        at date fixed for the payment of any installment or prepayment thereof
        or by declaration or acceleration or otherwise (but after giving effect
        to the period of grace, if any, applicable thereto). No Payment Default
        shall be deemed to have been cured unless the full amount of the overdue
        payment to which such Payment Default relates shall have been paid in
        full prior to any acceleration of the Senior Obligations or unless
        waived by the Senior Creditor.

                   (ii)  "Blockage Notice" shall mean a written notice from the
        Senior Creditor to the Subordinated Creditors of the existence of an
        Event of Default and the commencement of a Blockage Period.

                                       5
<Page>

                   (iii) "Blockage Period" shall mean the period commencing on
        the date of delivery to the Subordinated Creditors of a Blockage Notice
        and ending on the earlier to occur of (A) the 181st day following
        delivery of such Blockage Notice and (B) the date the Event of Default
        giving rise to such Blockage Notice is cured to the satisfaction of, or
        waived by, the Senior Creditor.

             (c)   In addition to the foregoing limitations, the Borrowers and
the Subordinated Creditors agree that so long as any of the Senior Obligations
shall remain outstanding, the Borrowers shall not pay and no Subordinated
Creditor shall accept or receive, any management, consulting, advisory or other
fees; except that so long as no Payment Default exists and no Blockage Period is
continuing: (i) the Borrowers may pay reasonable directors' fees and reimburse
the Subordinated Creditors for reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the
Subordinated Creditors in connection with the Subordinated Obligations, and (ii)
with the written consent of the Senior Creditor, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed, the Borrowers may retain Wynnchurch or any
other Subordinated Creditor to perform, and pay to Wynnchurch or such other
Subordinated Creditor fees for, advisory services at market rates.

             2.7.  NO MODIFICATION OR AMENDMENT OF SUBORDINATED NOTE AND WARRANT
DOCUMENTS. The Borrowers and the Subordinated Creditors agree that so long as
the Senior Credit Agreement remains in effect or any of the Senior Obligations
remain outstanding, the Borrowers and the Subordinated Creditors shall not
alter, modify, amend, supplement or otherwise change any of the provisions of
the Subordinated Note and Warrant Documents.

        3.   AGREEMENT TO HOLD IN TRUST. If any holder of Subordinated
Obligations shall receive any payment on account of the Subordinated Obligations
in violation of this Agreement, it shall hold such payment in trust for the
benefit of the holder or holders of the Senior Obligations and pay it over to
the Senior Creditor for application in payment of the Senior Obligations.

        4.   REQUIREMENT OF SUBORDINATED CREDITORS TO GIVE NOTICE. The
Subordinated Creditors agree to notify the Senior Creditor upon (a) any
acceleration of the Subordinated Obligations, or (b) any transfer of any
Subordinated Obligations, specifying the name and address of the transferee. The
Senior Creditor agrees to notify the Subordinated Creditor upon any refinancing
or replacement of the Senior Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
failure of any party to give any notice required under this section 4 shall not
affect the subordination of the Subordinated Obligations to the Senior
Obligations.

        5.   LEGEND. The Borrowers and the Subordinated Creditors, for
themselves and their successors and assigns, covenant to cause each negotiable
instrument representing or evidencing any of the Subordinated Obligations to
have affixed upon it a legend which reads substantially as follows:

             "This instrument is subject to an Intercreditor and Subordination
        Agreement dated as of January 31, 2002 among Wynnchurch Capital
        Partners, L.P., Wynnchurch Capital Partners Canada, L.P., Alternative
        Resources Corporation, ARC Service, Inc., ARC Solutions, Inc., ARC
        Midholding, Inc., Writers, Inc. and Fleet Capital Corporation, which,
        among other things, subordinates the maker's obligations to the payee to
        the maker's obligations to the holders of Senior Obligations as defined
        in said Agreement."

        6.   LIMIT ON RIGHT OF ACTION. The Subordinated Creditors, for
themselves and their respective successors and assigns, agree for the benefit of
the holders of the Senior Obligations that the Subordinated Creditors will not
take any action to accelerate or demand the payment of the Subordinated
Obligations or to foreclose or otherwise realize on any security or guaranty
given by the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates to secure or guarantee the
Subordinated Obligations (a) if a Payment Default shall have

                                       6
<Page>

occurred and be continuing, (b) if a Blockage Period shall have commenced and be
continuing, or (c) at any time following any acceleration of the Senior
Obligations (unless such acceleration is subsequently rescinded by the Senior
Creditor). In any event, no such action to accelerate or demand the payment of
the Subordinated Obligations or to foreclose or otherwise realize on any
security or guaranty shall be taken by the Subordinated Creditor unless the
Subordinated Creditors have given the Senior Creditor thirty (30) days prior
written notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein,
Wynnchurch and any other Subordinated Creditor may accelerate the Subordinated
Indebtedness at any time after the Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated, and
Wynnchurch and any other Subordinated Creditor may participate in any proceeding
with respect to a Reorganization not initiated by or at the request of a
Subordinated Creditor or any other persons acting in concert with a Subordinated
Creditor; provided that the provisions of Section 2.2 of this Agreement shall
continue to apply to any distributions made to any creditors in connection with
such Reorganization. The foregoing provisions of this section 6 are solely for
the purpose of defining the relative rights of the holders of Senior Obligations
on the one hand and the holders of the Subordinated Obligations on the other
hand and shall not limit or otherwise affect any rights which the holders of the
Subordinated Obligations may have against the Borrowers under the terms of the
Subordinated Note and Warrant Documents.

        7.   THE SUBORDINATED CREDITORS' JUNIOR SECURITY. FCC hereby consents to
the security interest of Wynnchurch in certain Collateral of the Borrowers
granted to secure the Subordinated Obligations of the Borrowers in respect of
the Subordinated Notes. The Subordinated Creditors hereby agree and confirm that
regardless of the relative times of attachment or perfection thereof or the
order of filing of financing statements, mortgages or other documents, and
regardless of anything in the Subordinated Note and Warrant Documents or the
Subordinated Notes to the contrary, any security interests or liens granted from
time to time to the Senior Creditor as security for the Senior Obligations shall
in all respects be first and senior security interests and liens, superior to
any security interests or liens granted to the Subordinated Creditors in the
Collateral as security for the Subordinated Obligations. The Senior Creditor
acknowledges (a) for purposes of Section 9-305 of the Uniform Commercial Code
that any Collateral in which it may from time to time hold a possessory security
interest shall also be held on behalf of the Subordinated Creditors (to the
extent the Subordinated Creditors have been granted a security interest in such
Collateral which is permitted hereunder and under the Senior Credit Agreement),
and (b) that any Collateral, including but not limited to deposit accounts of
the Borrowers, in which the Senior Creditor has perfected its security interest
by control under Section 9-314 of the Uniform Commercial Code shall also be held
on behalf of the Subordinated Creditors (to the extent the Subordinated
Creditors have been granted a security interest in such Collateral which is
permitted hereunder and under the Security Agreement), and the Senior Creditor
agrees, and the Borrowers consent, that except as otherwise provided in Section
8 below, at such time as any of such Collateral is released from the Senior
Creditor's lien thereon, it shall be delivered to the Subordinated Creditors to
be held as security for the Subordinated Obligations. In addition, if after the
Senior Creditor exercises its rights with respect to the Collateral and after
the application of the proceeds of the Collateral as provided in the Senior
Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, a surplus remains which would
otherwise be paid to the Borrowers, unless the Senior Creditor shall be directed
otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction or by the Subordinated Creditors,
said surplus shall instead be delivered to the Subordinated Creditors to be
applied to the Subordinated Obligations in accordance with the terms thereof. In
foreclosing or realizing on the Senior Creditor's security interests in the
Collateral, so long as the Senior Creditor acts in a commercially reasonable
manner, the Senior Creditor may proceed in any manner which the Senior Creditor,
in its sole discretion, shall choose, even though a higher price might have been
realized if the Senior Creditor had proceeded to foreclose or realize on its
security interests in another manner.

        8.   RELEASE OF COLLATERAL. Without limiting any of the rights
(including the right to foreclose upon the Collateral) of the Senior Creditor
under the Senior Credit Agreement or the other Loan

                                       7
<Page>

Documents (as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement) or under the provisions of
any applicable law, in the event that the Senior Creditor shall release its
security interests in, and liens upon, any Collateral which is subject to a
security interest or lien in favor of the Subordinated Creditors, the
Subordinated Creditors agree that such Collateral shall thereupon be released
from all such security interests and liens in favor of the Subordinated
Creditors, provided that the Senior Creditor shall reasonably believe that such
Collateral is being sold or transferred either (a) in the ordinary course of
business or (b) following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event
of Default. The Subordinated Creditors agree that immediately upon the written
request of the Senior Creditor therefor, the Subordinated Creditors will
execute, deliver and file any and all such termination statements, lien releases
or other agreements or instruments as the Senior Creditor shall reasonably deem
necessary or appropriate in order to give effect to the foregoing provisions of
this section 8. The Subordinated Creditors hereby irrevocably appoint the Senior
Creditor the true and lawful attorneys of the Subordinated Creditors for the
purpose of executing and filing any such termination statements, lien releases
or other agreements or instruments. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing provisions of this section 8, the Senior Creditor may (but shall not
be obligated to) cause an independent appraisal to be made as to the fair value
of any Collateral proposed to be sold or transferred and may conclusively rely
upon the results of any such appraisal. The Borrowers agrees to reimburse the
Senior Creditor on demand for the cost of any such appraisal and any
unreimbursed amounts shall constitute Senior Obligations for all purposes of
this Agreement.

        9.   AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS OF FCC SENIOR CREDIT AGREEMENT;
REFINANCED SENIOR CREDIT AGREEMENT.

             (a)   FCC hereby reserves the right, in its sole discretion (and
without in any way diminishing or altering its rights hereunder or the
subordination provisions contained herein), to modify, amend, waive, extend or
release any of the terms of the FCC Senior Credit Agreement, the Notes, the
other Loan Documents or the Senior Obligations or of any other document relative
thereto and to exercise or refrain from exercising any powers or rights which it
may have thereunder; provided that unless the Subordinated Creditors otherwise
agree in writing, no such modification, amendment or extension of the FCC Senior
Credit Agreement shall provide for: (i) the maximum principal amount of the
Senior Obligations to exceed the Subordination Limit; (ii) the maximum rate of
interest with respect to the Senior Obligations to exceed the greater of (A) the
Adjusted Base Rate (as defined in the FCC Senior Credit Agreement) plus 5.00% or
(B) the Eurodollar Rate (as defined in the FCC Senior Credit Agreement) plus
7.25%; or (iii) the payment by the Borrowers of any modification, amendment,
waiver, extension or similar fees in an aggregate amount in excess of 5% of the
maximum principal amount of the Senior Obligations.

             (b)   Wynnchurch and each other holder from time to time of the
Subordinated Obligations hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement
shall apply to, and the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of, any Senior Creditor from time to time party to any Refinanced Senior Credit
Agreement, provided that unless the Subordinated Creditors otherwise agree in
writing, no Refinanced Senior Credit Agreement shall: (i) provide for the
maximum principal amount of the Senior Obligations to exceed the Subordination
Limit; (ii) provide for the maximum rate of interest with respect to the Senior
Obligations to exceed the greater of (A) the Adjusted Base Rate (as defined in
the FCC Senior Credit Agreement) plus 5.00% or (B) the Eurodollar Rate (as
defined in the FCC Senior Credit Agreement) plus 7.25%; (iii) require the
Borrowers to pay any commitment, closing or similar fees in an aggregate amount
in excess of 5% of the maximum principal amount of the Senior Obligations; or
(iv) contain financial covenants or other terms and conditions that are
materially less favorable to the Borrowers than the terms and conditions of the
FCC Senior Credit Agreement.

             (c)   This Agreement may be amended by or otherwise modified by an
agreement in writing signed by the Senior Creditor and the Subordinated
Creditors and such amendment or

                                       8
<Page>

modification shall be binding on the Senior Creditor, the Subordinated Creditors
and the Borrowers; provided, however, no such amendment or modification unless
consented to by the Borrowers shall amend or modify the Borrowers' underlying
obligations under the Senior Obligations or Subordinated Obligations.

        10.  FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each of the Borrowers and the Subordinated
Creditors for itself and its respective successors and assigns, agrees to
execute and deliver to the Senior Creditor, and the Borrowers and the Senior
Creditor agree to execute and deliver to the Subordinated Creditors, in each
case at the expense of the Borrowers, such further documents and instruments and
to take such further action as the Senior Creditor or the Subordinated Creditors
may at any time or times reasonably request in order to carry out the provisions
and intent of this Agreement.

        11.  NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be personally delivered, sent by facsimile transmission, or
mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, as follows:

             (a)   If to the Subordinated Creditors:

                   Wynnchurch Capital Partners, L.P.
                   Two Conway Park
                   150 Field Drive, Suite 165
                   Lake Forest, Illinois  60045
                   Attn:  John A. Hatherly
                   Fax No.: (847) 604-6105

                   with a copy to:

                   Altheimer & Gray
                   10 South Wacker Drive
                   Chicago, Illinois  60606-7482
                   Attn: Mark Kindelin, Esq.
                   Fax No.: (312) 715-4800

             (b)   If to the Borrowers:
                   Alternative Resources Corporation
                   600 Hart Road, Suite 300
                   Barrington, Illinois  60010
                   Attn: Chief Financial Officer
                   Fax No.:  847-381-6604

                   with a copy to:

                   McDermott Will & Emery
                   227 West Monroe Street
                   Chicago, Illinois  60606
                   Attn:  Lauretta Moran, Esq.
                   Fax No.:  312-984-7700

                                       9
<Page>

             (c)   If to the Senior Creditor:

                   Fleet Capital Corporation
                   One Federal Street
                   Mail Stop MA DE 10307X
                   Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                   Attn: Christopher Godfrey
                   Fax No.:  617-654-1167

                   with a copy to:

                   Palmer & Dodge LLP
                   111 Huntington Avenue
                   Boston, Massachusetts  02199
                   Attn: David Ruediger, Esq.
                   Fax No.:  617-227-4420

or to such other address or addresses as the party to whom such notice is
directed may have designated in writing to the other parties hereto. A notice
shall be deemed to have been given upon the earlier to occur of (i) three (3)
days after the date on which it is deposited in the U.S. mails or (ii) receipt
by the party to whom such notice is directed.

        12.  SUCCESSORS: CONTINUING EFFECT. ETC. This Agreement is being entered
into for the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the holders of the Senior
Obligations and the holders of the Subordinated Obligations and their respective
successors and assigns. This Agreement shall be a continuing agreement and shall
be irrevocable and shall remain in full force and effect so long as there are
both Senior Obligations (including, if applicable, any portion of the Senior
Creditor's "Revolving Credit Commitment" under the Senior Credit Agreement) and
Subordinated Obligations outstanding.

        13.  MISCELLANEOUS. In case any provision in this Agreement shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the
different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which shall be an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.

                                  {End of Text}

                                       10
<Page>

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as a
sealed instrument as of the date first above written.

                            FLEET CAPITAL CORPORATION

                            By: /s/ Christopher Godfrey
                            Name:   Christopher Godfrey
                            Title:  Senior Vice President

                            WYNNCHURCH CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.

                            By:  Wynnchurch Management Inc., its general partner

                            By: /s/ John Hatherly
                            Name:   John Hatherly
                            Title:  President

                            WYNNCHURCH CAPITAL PARTNERS CANADA, L.P.

                            By:  Wynnchurch GP Canada, Inc., its general partner

                            By: /s/ John Hatherly
                            Name:   John Hatherly
                            Title:  President

                            ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES CORPORATION

                            By: /s/ Steven Purcell
                            Name:   Steven Purcell
                            Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
                                    Officer

                            ARC SERVICE, INC.

                            By: /s/ Steven Purcell
                            Name:   Steven Purcell
                            Title:  Vice President and Secretary

                                       11
<Page>

                            ARC SOLUTIONS, INC.

                            By: /s/ Steven Purcell
                            Name:   Steven Purcell
                            Title:  Vice President and Secretary

                            ARC MIDHOLDING, INC.

                            By: /s/ Steven Purcell
                            Name:   Steven Purcell
                            Title:  Vice President and Secretary

                            WRITERS INC.

                            By: /s/ Steven Purcell
                            Name:   Steven Purcell
                            Title   Vice President and Secretary

                                       12

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