It can backfire, too. You're there to audition as a fellow, but you're still a resident, and often not even a senior one. But the faculty is thinking about how you would do as a fellow in comparison to other fellows. Not fair, but there it is.
Also, you probably don't know the system, or the computers, or how to get things done, and so it's easy to look inefficient even in comparison to the local residents. And then on top of all that, you're trying really hard to make the most of the opportunity and so its easy to come on a little too strong to the faculty, who may then make all sorts of inferences about perceived aggressiveness and stuff.
So yeah, you could thread the needle and make a great impression, but the system is sort of geared against you.
