Let’s start with a scenario.
Your new employee walks in on their first day. They’re nervous, they’ve got their best “please like me” smile plastered on, and they’re trying to figure out where the bathroom is without asking. You’re busy setting them up with a laptop, company email, and the obligatory intro to Karen in accounting who brings muffins every Friday.
Everything looks fine.
Except… it isn’t.
Because to a hacker, that fresh-faced new hire might as well be a blinking neon sign that says “Attack here for easy access.”
And here’s the scary part: the research backs it up. A whopping 71% of new employees fall for phishing or social engineering scams within their first 90 days. That’s not a typo. Nearly three out of four.
So if you thought onboarding was just about laptops, passwords, and where the coffee lives… think again.
The Psychology of “New”
Think back to the last time you started a new job.
You wanted to fit in. You wanted to look competent. And let’s be honest… you were probably nodding along to things you didn’t fully understand just to avoid looking like “the new guy.”
Now add email to that mix.
A message lands in your inbox:
- It looks like it’s from HR.
- It asks you to update your personal info.
- It has a link that looks legit (but isn’t).
What do you do?
If you’re new, you probably click. Why? Because you’re eager to follow instructions. You don’t want to bother your manager with questions. And you don’t yet know the subtle signs of what “normal” communication looks like inside the company.
Hackers know this. They thrive on this. It’s like catnip for cybercriminals.
That’s why new hires are 44% more likely to click on phishing emails than experienced employees. And if the scammer pretends to be the CEO or another executive? That number jumps to 45%.
It’s basically shooting phish in a barrel.
But Wait… It’s Not Just the Newbies
Now here’s where people get overconfident.
I can hear it now: “Well sure, the rookies might slip up, but my senior staff knows better.”
Do they?
Because let me tell you… even the most seasoned employees fall for scams. Why?
- They’re busy.
- They’re tired.
- They’re skimming through 200 emails before lunch.
- They get one message that looks urgent, and boom… they click.
Hackers don’t discriminate. They’re equal-opportunity tricksters. New hires are easier targets, sure, but even your best people have bad days. One wrong click from anyone can open the door.
So don’t think of this as “rookie mistakes.” Think of it as “human mistakes.” And humans don’t magically get safer after 90 days.
The Illusion of Tech Shields
Now you might be thinking: “But Erik, I’ve got firewalls. Antivirus. Spam filters. We’re good.”
Nice try.
Those tools are essential. I’d never tell you to ditch them. But here’s the harsh truth: they’re like locks on your front door. Good for stopping someone who jiggles the handle. Useless against a con artist who sweet-talks your kid into letting them in.
Cybercriminals don’t always bother trying to break your tech. Why would they? Breaking people is way easier.
And that’s why your people, not your software, are your first line of defense.
What the Numbers Really Mean
Let’s pause and look at those stats again because they’re pretty wild:
- 71% of new hires fall for phishing within 90 days.
- They’re 44% more likely to click than long-term employees.
- If attackers pose as executives, new hires are 45% more likely to fall for it.
- Companies that actually train new staff see phishing risk drop by 30% after onboarding.
That last one is the kicker. Thirty percent less risk… just by putting in the effort upfront.
That’s like buying insurance that actually pays out. Or eating a salad once in a while and immediately feeling better about your life choices.
What This Looks Like in Real Life
Let’s paint a picture.
A new hire named Sarah gets an email. It says:
“Hi Sarah, welcome aboard! Please complete your benefits enrollment. Click here to log in.”
She clicks. She lands on a page that looks almost like the HR portal. She types in her username and password.
Guess what? She just gave a cybercriminal the keys to her work email.
Now that hacker sends an email to accounting pretending to be Sarah’s boss, asking for an “urgent wire transfer.” And because the email is coming from Sarah’s actual account, it looks legit.
All it took was one click.
This isn’t theoretical. This happens. A lot.
So What Do You Actually Do?
Here’s where most businesses get it wrong. They think, “We’ll cover cybersecurity training later, once the new hire is settled in.”
Wrong answer.
The most dangerous time is day one. That’s when they’re most likely to mess up. Waiting six months to train them is like teaching someone to swim after they’ve already jumped in the deep end.
So here’s the better approach:
- Day-One Security Briefing
Keep it short, but hit the basics. What phishing looks like. What to do if something feels off. And the golden rule: when in doubt, ask before clicking. - Make It Part of Onboarding
Don’t bury it in a 50-page PDF nobody reads. Make it interactive. Make it real. Honestly, throw in some of my blogs if you want. A quick read about phishing or password hygiene beats a boring slideshow any day. - Run Simulations
Send test phishing emails. See who clicks. Not to shame people, but to teach them. It’s like a fire drill, but for your inbox. - Reinforce, Don’t Forget
Training isn’t a one-and-done deal. Refresh it. Keep people on their toes. Hackers certainly aren’t taking breaks.
The Culture Shift
Here’s the part that really matters: it’s not about making employees paranoid. It’s about building a culture where it’s okay to slow down. To double-check. To say, “Hey, this email looks weird, can you confirm?”
That little pause can save you thousands of dollars (and a world of stress).
It’s like teaching your kids to look both ways before crossing the street. Eventually, it becomes automatic.
The Business Case
Still not convinced? Let’s talk dollars.
Phishing attacks cost businesses billions every year. One click can lead to:
- Stolen data
- Locked-up systems (hello, ransomware)
- Damaged reputation
- Angry customers
- Regulatory fines
Training new hires costs… what? A couple of hours? Maybe a few hundred bucks if you use outside help?
It’s one of the few business investments with immediate ROI.
Final Thought
Your new hires are excited, motivated, and ready to prove themselves. That’s exactly what makes them attractive targets.
But don’t get it twisted… even your most senior employees can trip up too. Nobody is bulletproof.
So build security into your culture. Make training part of the welcome package. Run simulations. Keep the conversation alive.
Because your people, not your tech, are the real frontline. And whether they’ve been with you for 10 minutes or 10 years, they need to know how to spot a con when it lands in their inbox.
