Most investment banks hold events and presentations on campuses long before it's time for students to actually submit applications. The idea is for students to ask lots of questions about the firms, get to know some recruiters, and schedule some informational interviews.
But if you go to an event and just listen, Bucaria said, "Nobody’s walked away with any other different impression of you than when you came in."
She said a big part of the evaluation comes before résumés are even submitted, when students are at events or interacting with the company and doing informational interviews.
"Make sure you're asking questions — be inquisitive," she said.
(But also beware of over-talking at campus events — nobody likes an attention hog.)