If you are told "You're hired" during an interview, is there any recourse if they don't?

It was by the CEO of a small company after the principals interviewed me. I saw that he was struggling to show me something and I helped him solve the problem. At that point, he said "You're hired". They later told the recruiter that they were not interested. Is there a anything I can do?

If is isn't illegal then it must be in extremely bad taste to say jokingly "you're hired" to a job applicant.

Unfortunately such whims and fancies are still legal and we are helpless !!!

He was joking.

Why would you want to work for people that don't want you to work for them? And why would you want to waste your time and money getting legal about it?

Move on and find another job. Not worth it...

Yes, you can call and state that you're disappointed by the false sense of security the CEO gave you, and express your extreme dissatisfaction with the recruiting agency.

Unless there is a written offer letter or an email, you cannot really assume that they have hired you just by word of mouth.

All three answers that you have is good and Mom-o-p is correct about having it in writing. The best thing I believe would be to find another job. You need to find a company who has integrity and is not morally bankrupt. Any business person that cannot or will not keep their word is not someone you want to work for. Besides if they treat their customers like they have treated you, you would be looking for a new job when they had to close the business because they had no customers.

Nope. Unless you have a contract of employment, you are an "at will" employee and can be fired for any reason or no reason at all, one second after you are hired.

No, you don't have any recourse. OK, he was impressed by you, but you didn't get hired and you don't have any legal complaint you can make.

Was it unprofessional of him to say that in the interview? Sure it was. But that doesn't give you legal rights.