Forget resumes. ‘Apple or Android?’ is Indeed CEO’s go-to interview question. Here's why

Responses to the question vary widely, but Chris Hyams noted that most candidates opt for iPhone.

In an industry where resumes and technical qualifications typically dominate hiring decisions, Chris Hyams, Chief Executive Officer of global employment platform Indeed, has embraced a markedly unconventional approach to candidate interviews. Over the past 15 years, Hyams has posed the same seemingly simple question to over 3,000 job applicants: “Apple or Android?”

In an interview with Fortune, Hyams explained that the question, often mistaken for a casual inquiry about technology preferences, is in fact a deliberate tool to probe a candidate’s decision-making process and personal reasoning. “It might seem strange, but I ask everyone, ‘Do you have an iPhone or an Android, and why?’” he said.

The point, he emphasised, was never to identify a correct answer. “It's not about the right answer,” Hyams clarified. “It's about how they approach the question and justify their choice.”

This line of questioning, according to Hyams, often evolves into a deeper, 15-minute dialogue that reveals far more than standard interview responses. “I’m mostly curious about how people make decisions,” he said. “And it's actually a long 15-minute series of back-and-forth on this, where I get to learn a little bit about the human being and about how they make decisions.”

The strategy reflects Hyams’ broader recruitment philosophy, one that prioritised qualities such as curiosity, critical thinking, and adaptability over conventional credentials. By exploring how individuals justify everyday choices, he aims to identify candidates who can navigate ambiguity and complexity—skills he considers vital in today’s fast-changing work environment.

Responses to the question vary widely, but Hyams noted that most candidates opt for iPhone. A common explanation is long-term brand loyalty, often rooted in being added to a family plan during their school years. Others share details about the apps they enjoy using, inadvertently offering insights into their interests and habits.

“When that happens, I ask what they would change about the platforms,” Hyams revealed. “You can actually have a really interesting set of conversations around how important it is when you choose a product that you can get stuck with that thing for a very, very long time.”

He added, “I ask people what apps they use, and that’s a way to learn a little bit about them.”