Once you put in your CV and application, usually the Managing Director gives you a call. They explain a bit more about the company and even though this program is called the International Management Trainee program, the international aspect is that they have offices internationally, and that you work towards getting into management, starting from a sales role where you sell the software to clients. In the phone interview, the MD gives you a run-down of the company. The phone interview is simple and seems like a formality and they then invite you to a mingle drinks session of about 20 people. It was not made clear at this point that this "mingle session" is actually a part of the assessment process. They do a few presentations and demo the software and then you can ask questions. It is in that time that they basically decide whether they like you or not, though it is under the guise of "feel free to ask us any questions". The bottom line is, if you don't actively make yourself stand out at this point and try to get to know everyone, they will not invite you for the group interview.