Jono and Johno co-managing director Charlie Johnson has even been called up for a talent acquisition podcast this week to run through the company's recruiting strategy.

The basics behind the creative call for an operations manager, with a focus on people and culture, was a need to get to the pub.

Fresh out of an early release from lockdown, it had been a busy day for the company and everything but a job ad for the new position had been finalised. Mr Johnson had a creative play and asked his human resources manager to sign off on the ad so they could all meet at the pub and debrief.

By dinner, Mr Johnson's phone started with messages about the funny ad. It also became a feature for a major television station's online lifestyle platform by the weekend.

"I've always been a little bit nervous doing too much creatively or using that ocker language too much. Usually we keep it safe and professional but that hasn't always worked perfectly for us either," Mr Johnson said.

"I enjoy creative writing, but I still think it's genuinely reflective of our business...We've got a couple of okay candidates coming through. We want to take our time to fill it and find the right person."

And it was okay if a candidate did not get the Khaleesi Game of Thrones reference, or other pop-culture spins. The job description is very much included.

Online, copywrite critics have been divided. Some claim brilliance. Others are lost in the messaging for the company that sells "a bunch of stuff that landowners use. Chainsaws, engines, whipper snippers and a freakin' shed load of spare parts".

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Mr Johnson said while he wrote the ad, it was with encouragement from his HR recruit Clare Linane, who has a strong background in corporate human resources.

Ms Linane had been helping Jono and Johno spice up its marketing but found she could not quite get the Aussie larrikanism quite right. She said the company's best responses were for the posts with a few colloquialisms accompanying ads on Facebook, usually written by Mr Johnson.

"I told him, 'I like your voice...You guys really are the brand'," Ms Linane said. "Reading comments about the job ad, it's amazing how many assumptions people make because of that voice. Some assume because it's written like that the environment is all fun and games.

"The reality is a really engaged workforce that is genuinely fond of the bosses; they put people above profit all the time...They give honest feedback and they work hard."

Mr Johnson and business partner Grant Jonasson, his childhood best mate from Warracknabeal, started the company in Warracknabeal 13 years ago. Business headquarters are in Ballarat. If you are local and applying, "Bonza. You already have a massive kitchen and a Kathmandu jacket. You're half way there".

Read the full Jono and Johno job advertisement here.

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