Professional Values Research Articles

Demographics shaping memorable wellness tourism experiences: A comparative analysis

This study addresses gaps in literature and empirical research by investigating international wellness tourists in Sri Lanka, segmenting them by memorable wellness tourism experiences (MWTE), and analyzing differences in demographics, travel patterns, and preferred wellness activities among these segments. Data were collected from November 2023 to April 2024 using non-probability convenience sampling, yielding 622 valid responses. SPSS software was employed for data analysis, utilizing factor-cluster methods. The findings revealed three distinct clusters: Professional Authentic Value Wellness Seekers, Holistic Enrichment Wellness Seekers, and Serene Aesthetics Wellness Seekers, each characterized by unique preferences and demographic profiles. Majority of respondents were middle-aged, educated, and employed, predominantly female, and primarily from Europe. Popular wellness activities included Ayurveda, spa treatments, and yoga. Substantial differences in demographics, travel patterns, and wellness activity preferences were identified among the clusters. The study’s originality lies in segmenting Sri Lanka’s international wellness tourists by memorable experiences, revealing new insights into demographics, travel patterns, and preferences. It offers profound insights into an underexplored destination, aiding targeted marketing and strategic development in wellness tourism. Additionally, it advances segmentation theory by integrating memorable experiential dimensions and guiding strategic marketing and product development aligned with these identified segments.

Features of Student Youth’s Perception of Russian History: The Influence of Professional Fields and Values

This article presents the results of an study conducted in 2023, examining the historical and cultural foundations of Russian identity among modern youth. The study focuses on how affiliation with different social and professional groups shapes their perception of Russian history and culture. Particular emphasis is placed on the processes through which individuals develop a personal understanding of history, offering an innovative approach to analyzing historical memory in relation to Russia’s present and future. The preliminary conclusions drawn from this exploratory research highlight the need for comprehensive models to study the processes of youth identification with Russia.

Exploring the journey to genomic testing and genetic services: A qualitative study of parental perspectives of children with rare conditions.

Despite affecting a small portion of the population, rare conditions have a significant impact, collectively affecting around 300 million people worldwide. Historically, early diagnosis has been impeded by failure to recognize rare conditions and order/refer for appropriate genomic testing. The advancements in genome sequencing offer a more agnostic and accelerated approach to the identification and diagnosis of rare disorders, potentially improving health outcomes, reducing the impact of disability, and reducing financial and psychological burdens on families. Due to the complex nature of these conditions, early engagement with genomic testing and clinical genetics services is key to facilitating a diagnosis. This qualitative exploration aimed to understand the journey to genomic testing and services and identify the supports families need during the diagnostic period. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 parents of children with a rare condition. Interviews were analyzed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes of the parent experience were identified (1) the need for a streamlined pathway through the healthcare system, (2) the value of healthcare professionals who listen to parents, believed them, and partnered with them, and (3) the power of accurate diagnosis. Our findings indicate that providing direct and timely access to genomic testing for patients with a suspected rare condition could alleviate psychological and financial stressors. Genetic counselors are adept at supporting families affected by rare conditions and are optimally placed to facilitate timely access to genomic testing. Improving timely access may be facilitated through educating primary care physicians and embedding genetic counselors in pediatric settings.

Stakeholder perspectives on graduates' acquisition of competencies in nursing bachelor's degree programs: A qualitative study

BackgroundIn nursing education, greater emphasis should be placed on stakeholder perspectives, and these perspectives should be integrated into the educational process. Stakeholder perspectives are of great importance in determining the extent to which graduates achieve program competencies, and if necessary, in revising these competencies based on the relevant feedback. ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine stakeholder perspectives on the acquisition of nursing program competencies by graduates of undergraduate nursing programs. DesignExploratory qualitative research design. Participants and settingThe study was conducted in June 2024 through focus group interviews with a total of 20 internal and external stakeholders. MethodsThe data were collected using Semi-Structured Focus Group Interview Forms. The data were organized according to common/similar categories by content analysis. ResultsThe data obtained based on the views of the participants on the acquisition of nursing program competencies by graduates of nursing education programs were divided into three categories: Competencies Acquired from Nursing Education (professional knowledge and skills, lifelong learning), Competencies That Need Improvement (critical thinking/problem-solving skills, communication skills, foreign language proficiency, professional values, and managerial skills), and Suggestions to Improve Competencies Acquired from Nursing Education (suggestions related to education, the profession, and institutional/administrative matters). Additionally, 10 subcategories associated with these categories were identified. ConclusionCompetencies expected in members of the profession of nursing are a global topic of discussion, and the findings of study provide important insights for future studies. In line with these results, it is recommended to enhance collaboration with stakeholders and conduct regular meetings involving all stakeholders. The outcomes of these meetings should guide the structuring of educational programs to ensure the acquisition of competencies, and relevant activities should be planned and implemented accordingly.

A Network Analysis of Emotional Intelligence in Chinese Preschool Teachers

Emotional intelligence significantly influences various aspects of teachers’ professional and personal lives, notably affecting preschoolers’ social skills and emotional development during formative years. This study utilizes a network analysis approach to explore the complex relationships among four components of emotional intelligence: emotional labor, emotional regulation, professional well-being, and professional identity. Participants included 2069 frontline Chinese teachers (34 males, 2035 females; M = 28.64, SD = 5.98; M years of teaching = 6.88, SD = 5.29) with no leadership roles, categorized into three stages of their careers based on years of teaching experience: novice (0–3 years; n = 612), advanced beginners (4–6 years; n = 537), and competent (7–40 years; n = 920). Findings revealed that joy of teaching, role value, and professional value were identified as the most critical elements within the emotional state network of early childhood education teachers. The strongest connections in teachers’ emotional networks were found between school connectedness and joy of teaching (r = 0.474), surface acting behavior and natural acting behavior (r = 0.419), and professional value and professional behavior (r = 0.372). Furthermore, teachers across different career stages exhibited similar characteristics and intrinsic connections among emotional state components. These findings deepen our understanding of the emotional state networks of ECE teachers, highlighting shared features and interconnected mechanisms, and suggest that enhancing teachers’ emotional intelligence through targeted professional development can improve both teacher well-being and preschoolers’ social–emotional outcomes. Policies that foster strong school connectedness and reduce emotional labor are key to promoting sustained joy in teaching, particularly for novice and advanced beginner teachers.

Ecopedagogy in Remote Digitally Facilitated Field Education Experiences: Embedding Ecosocial Work in Practice

Teaching that centers holistic understandings of humans and the natural environment is relatively new in Australian social work education. This position is purposefully embraced to embed ecological justice as a key consideration in day-to-day practice. Alongside the growing professional awareness of ecological concerns and emerging commitment to ecosocial work practice, field education is evolving and allowing students to engage in remote digitally facilitated field placements. This provides new opportunities for creatively embedding ecological learning and ecosocial work practices into student field education thus promoting incorporation of these into the students’ emerging professional practice frameworks. This descriptive article examines the structure and pedagogical approach used in a series of such placements provided in partnership with environmental not-for-profit organizations. These digitally facilitated field education experiences can provide a powerful mechanism for transformational ecosocial learning, particularly when underpinned by Freirean ecopedagogy which resonates with social work’s professional values and purpose. Additionally, there is opportunity for mutual benefit when these placements are hosted by environmental not-for-profit organizations.

ЦІННОСТІ ЗДОБУВАЧІВ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ МЕДИЧНОГО УНІВЕРСИТЕТУ:ТЕОРІЯ І ПРАКТИКА

The article analyzes the theoretical and practical aspects of the values of student youth using the example of medical universities. Attention has been focused on the contradictions within the higher education system, the adaptation of first-year students to new conditions, and the features of the functioning of educational systems during wartime. Values are characterized in the context of comparing their positive and negative meanings, their division into material and spiritual categories, and their significance in axiology. The practical aspect of the conducted research reflects the experience of applying the «keyword» method in teaching humanities and social disciplines, aimed at developing skills in medical university students for analyzing and prioritizing academic and professional values. Through the «keyword» method, elements of students' self-assessment and their vision of the specifics of their future professional activities were identified. Based on the analysis of student responses, a list of key words in the field of medicine was compiled. It was found that first-year medical students understand the core professional values of future doctors, which ensure the prioritization of patients’ life and health, as well as the professionalism and moral responsibility of medical practitioners; while sixth-year students focus on the social aspects of the medical field (accessibility), its democratic nature (choice), and development prospects in response to unknown challenges (the future). The key words regarding the positive qualities of modern youth (values) were identified: persistence, tolerance, activity, openness, creativity, confidence, adaptability, and progressiveness; and the negative qualities (anti-values): apathy, irresponsibility, physical inactivity, overconfidence, arrogance, carelessness, laziness, insolence, imperfection, inconsistency, and overabundance. It is concluded that the issue of challenges faced by modern students in new conditions requires separate research. Identifying these challenges will allow for adjustments in the organization of the educational process and consideration of student opinions.

Professional Nursing Values in Nursing Students During Transitional Period to Nurses From the Perspective of Generation Z: A Longitudinal Study.

To investigate changes in professional nursing values during the transition from Generation Z senior nursing students to second-year newly graduated nurses (NGNs). A longitudinal study with secondary data analysis. A national-level dataset for 2020-2023 from the New Nurse e-Cohort Study was used, including a total of 366 participants aged 21-25 years (born after 1995) who graduated from nursing school in 2021. The Qualities of Nursing scale was used to measure professional nursing values. Generalised estimating equations were used for data analysis of professional nursing values at three different time points, once per year for 2020-2023. Compared with their senior nursing student selves, the greatest score decline appeared among first-year NGNs; there was a slight increase during their second year as NGNs. Among values, professionalism, knowledge and good communication ranked first, second and third, respectively, across all 3 years, and dedication consistently ranked the lowest. Understanding the changes in the professional nursing values of Generation Z nurses is essential for creating a supportive work environment that eases the transition and promotes successful integration into the nursing profession. Nursing educators and clinical managers should identify the causes of value confusion during role transitions and implement interventions to support the adaptation of NGNs. Addressing generational value differences is also crucial to creating a harmonious work environment, enhancing job satisfaction and reducing turnover among Generation Z nurses. This study contributes to the development of tailored strategies to support and retain NGNs of Generation Z. This study adhered to the STROBE guidelines for cohort studies. No patient or public contribution.

The coupling mechanism of farmland transfer and farmland mortgage: Taking the Jinshan District of Shanghai as an example

Taking the mortgage loan mechanism of farmland management rights in Jinshan District of Shanghai as an example, we analyzed the coupling mechanism between farmland transfer and farmland mortgage according to a case analysis and system evolution theory. We explored the comparative advantages and inherent limitations. The results showed that the linkage between farmland transfer and farmland mortgage has a Pareto nature, which can achieve a two-way mutual promotion and spiral development of the coupling system. The comparative advantages of the coupling mechanism of farmland transfer and farmland mortgage include source screening, process standardization, information symmetry, and comprehensive subsidies. The inherent limitations include the instability of the management right of flow transformation; the difficulty of land value evaluation; and the difficulty of mortgage disposal, unsustainability, and social risks. The benign coupling between farmland transfer and farmland mortgage likely triggered the market driving force and formed an operating mechanism that is “market driven and government promoted”; however, the capital supply of rural finance has not been consistent with the scale of agricultural production and management. With the deepening of this coupling, the systemic risk of the rural land financial market has spread from a farmland financial market to a farmland transfer market, and the degree of risk has become greater and the degree of harm has become deeper. Therefore, the government should strengthen the top-level design and improve the following key links: (1) encouraging and guiding the signing of medium- and long-term farmland transfer contracts; (2) establishing professional farmland value evaluation institutions; (3) building an effective exit mechanism for financial institutions; and (4) establishing a standardized farmland management right redemption mechanism.

Work engagement of hospital workers in times of pressure: do nonclinical hospital workers react differently from their well-studied clinical colleagues?

While prevalence and value of nonclinical hospital workers, like quality or education professionals, increase, their work engagement is understudied. Work engagement of nonclinical and clinical hospital workers is critical considering the pressure of major challenges in healthcare. The pandemic was a natural experiment for this. We conducted an observational survey study among all nonclinical and clinical hospital workers of the Jeroen Bosch Hospital, the Netherlands. In an employee satisfaction survey, we measured work engagement under acute pressure (just after the first COVID-19 wave in July 2020) and chronic pressure (within the second COVID-19 wave in November 2020) and to what extent psychological demands and co-worker support were related to work engagement. For all hospital staff, "average" levels of work engagement were found under acute (response rate 53.9%, mean 3.94(0.81)) and chronic pressure (response rate 34.0%, mean 3.88(0.95)). Under acute pressure, nonclinical hospital workers scored lower on the subcategory dedication than clinical workers (mean 4.28(1.05) vs mean 4.45(0.99), p<0.001). Under chronic pressure, no differences were found. For both nonclinical and clinical hospital workers, co-worker support was positively related to overall work engagement (beta 0.309 and 0.372). Psychological demands were positively related to work engagement for nonclinical hospital workers (beta 0.130), whereas in clinical hospital workers, psychological demands were negatively related to vigor (beta -0.082). Hospitals face times of pressure. Fostering co-worker support under pressure may be vital for hospital management. Work engagement of nonclinical hospital workers is understudied.

Postfeminism in prison: A discourse analysis of women correctional officers’ accounts of gendered appearance at work

This article explores sense-making among female prison workers as they negotiate their appearance at work. Appearance is a vehicle through which gender is performed; yet research into how women account for their appearance in this male-dominated profession remains limited. We address this gap through an analysis of 16 women's accounts of their appearance work produced from an in-depth cooperative inquiry with women working in Australian men's prisons. We discuss three overarching patterns of talk, “look good, feel good, be good,” “my choice, not yours,” and “look good, but not too good.” These accounts showed both alignments and tensions between (a) postfeminist imperatives to meet feminine appearance norms and (b) an organisational culture that devalues normative femininity but values attention to appearance. In this context, our participants developed individualised solutions, crafting their appearance in ways that would consolidate their own sense of identity and communicate their professional value to others. We find that exploring women's sense-making of appearance at work provides a critical avenue to understand the manifestation of sexism within organisations.

A neurosurgical nursing training system based on 3D printing models: practice and exploration of precision medicine

BackgroundIn recent years, the concept of precision medicine has gradually permeated the field of nursing, presenting new challenges for neurosurgical nursing staff. Traditional teaching methods often struggle to adequately convey complex anatomical knowledge and nursing skills, thereby affecting the learning outcomes and clinical decision-making abilities of nurses. As an innovative educational tool, three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has demonstrated significant potential in medical education in recent years. Therefore, this project aims to explore the advantages and feasibility of using 3D printed models as a novel teaching tool in neurosurgical nursing.MethodsThe study involved 80 nursing personnel who participated in the neurosurgical rotation training at Shaoxing People’s Hospital from 2022 to 2023. The control group (40 individuals) used only traditional teaching tools such as textbooks, multimedia courseware, and laboratory equipment for theoretical and practical training based on the curriculum. The experimental group (40 individuals) incorporated a 3D printing model database as an innovative teaching tool on the basis of traditional teaching methods, and used patient-specific 3D printed models for precise nursing training. After the training, both groups were assessed for theoretical and practical abilities, professional values, job satisfaction, and the prognosis of intracranial aneurysm patients they cared for.ResultsThe experimental group demonstrated superior scores in theoretical and practical abilities, professional values, and job satisfaction compared to the control group. During the training period, patients with intracranial aneurysms receiving precision nursing care from the experimental group showed better quality of life and neurological functional outcomes compared to the control group.ConclusionsThe nursing training system based on 3D printing models can enhance the learning efficiency and nursing work satisfaction of nursing personnel. It may have a positive impact on the professional values of nursing personnel, thereby laying a solid foundation for providing high-quality, precise nursing services in the field of neurosurgery in the future.

Regional Differences in Job Satisfaction among Chinese Social Workers: The Mediating Effect of Attitudinal Professionalism.

Job satisfaction is a vital factor associated with better physical health and subjective well-being among social workers. This study aims to explore the job satisfaction of social workers from China's Mainland and Macao and the role of attitudinal professionalism on regional differences. A cross-sectional survey collected data from 292 social workers in Mainland and 108 from Macao one year after the outbreak of COVID-19; 72 percent were female, less than half were married (44.8 percent), the average age was 32.64 years old, and the average working time was 6.07 years. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t tests, and mediation analysis. Results indicated that Mainland social workers reported a significantly higher level of job satisfaction and attitudinal professionalism than Macao social workers. Moreover, attitudinal professionalism helped explain the regional difference in job satisfaction. The evidence from this study highlights the need to nurture professional beliefs and values among social workers, especially for Macao social workers, and also underscores the importance of developing continuing education programs to enhance social workers' identification with and commitment to the profession. We also need to improve financial compensation and social status for Mainland social workers to sustain their professionalism.

Automated Assessment of Leadership Style and Professional Values of a Top-Manager and its Compliance with SDGS

Objective: the main objective was to use automated text analysis and assess the leadership styles and professional values of top managers, as well as to study how these parameters can influence the achievement of the SDG "Decent work and Economic growth". Theoretical Framework: The work is based on the idea that the leadership style and intelligence of a top manager determine the trajectory of a company’s development, the psychological working climate, the attitude towards employees, and the decision-making mechanism within and outside the team. Method: The authors used automated psychological text analysis using AI-based chatbots (ChatGPT, Gemini, Gigachat) and a specialized psychological text analysis program (LIWC). These methods were compared with psychological content analysis performed by a person. Results and Discussion: The obtained results showed that automated text analysis can be effectively used to understand the personality of the manager and the features of decision-making on his part in relation to employees and the organization. Research Implications: the approach proposed by the authors will allow for the development of measures to increase labor productivity and create decent jobs, taking into account the personality and values of the top manager, and will serve as a basis for the development of creativity and innovation in the company, thereby contributing to the achievement of the SDGs of “Decent Work and Economic Growth”. Originality/Value: the conducted research confirmed our hypothesis that text analysis allows us to understand important personality traits from the standpoint of intelligence, logic, thinking and speech, using artificial intelligence tools.

‘And then the helping relationship became different’: professional identity development through learning in a helping relationship course

ABSTRACT Professional identity is a dynamic process in which individuals come to view themselves as social workers. This process is enabled through utilizing transformative learning: involving the internalization of professional values, knowledge, approaches, skills, and interventions. This study examined the pedagogies that enhance the development of professional identity formation as occurred in a helping relationship course at an Israeli college. A qualitative methodology was used, in the collaborative autoethnography approach, based on systematic reflection on the participants’ experiences as social work educators. Each of the three educator-researchers documented all 12 weekly lessons, for a total of 36 journal entries. The findings point to four professional development phases during the course: self-awareness, confronting difficulties, acceptance, and integration of knowledge into practice. These findings are discussed in relation to transformative learning theory and Bion’s term of the unknown. Recommendations for social work educators are provided.

Professional values, ethical climate and job satisfaction of nurses and their selected sociodemographic and occupational characteristics.

To explore the relationship of selected socio-demographic and occupational characteristics of nurses and their level of professional values, hospital ethical climate and job satisfaction. Cross-sectional study was conducted among 388 Polish nurses from the spring of 2021 to winter of 2023, in the eastern part of Poland; and followed by Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Four research tools were used to collect data together with questionnaire for socio-demographic and occupational characteristics. Professional values such as activism correlate negatively with religious beliefs (Z = -1.789; p = 0.044), this means that nurses who are more involved in professional change activities are likely to be less associated with religious beliefs. A positive correlation was observed between the Ethical Hospital Climate Survey subscale-peer relations and nurses' education level (H = 5.638; p = 0.048), indicating that a higher education level was associated with better relationships with colleagues at work. A negative relationship was identified between nurses' external job satisfaction and their marital status (Z = -1.958; p = 0.040), that is, married nurses feel less satisfaction with the external aspects of their jobs than their single colleagues. These findings underscore that medical staff management should take into account both sociodemographic factors [e.g., age, education, place of residence, marital status, religious beliefs, as well as professional factors (working hours, qualification course, etc.)] that affect nurses' professional values, job satisfaction and the ethical climate of the hospital. These underscore the need to adapt management strategies to the individual needs of employees, which can contribute to improving working conditions in healthcare facilities. The data collection tool consists of four sections. Collected background and demographic information. Assessed professional values among nurses. Assessed hospital ethical climate among nurses. Assessed job satisfaction levels among nurses.

Neoliberalism and legal culture: The path of least resistance is what makes rivers run crooked

This article examines the relationship between neoliberalism and legal culture in South Africa, focusing on how the neoliberal paradigm influences legal interpretation and the adjudication of socio-economic rights. It explores how neoliberalism, defined as the dominance of capitalist forces over weaker oppositional interests, permeates judicial decision-making, shaping how courts address issues of inequality and social justice. The article argues that neoliberalism, in prioritizing market interests, has contributed to a conservative legal inertia that prevents transformative legal outcomes. This dynamic has entrenched existing socio-economic disparities, especially as state power continues to serve the interests of capital, reinforcing apartheid-era economic structures. Despite the transformative potential embedded in South Africa's constitutional framework, the legal system remains constrained by what Karl Klare terms as professional sensibilities, codes, and values, many of which are influenced by neoliberalism. Drawing on theoretical insights of Karl Klare, the article calls for a rethinking of legal culture and a shift towards more relational, metaphorical approaches that challenge hegemonic narratives. Only by resisting these metanarratives can meaningful transformation be achieved in the pursuit of equality and justice.

Pre‐Service Teachers’ Technology Integration in Pronunciation Instruction: Professional Identity and Value Beliefs

ABSTRACTTechnology brings new promises to transform second language teaching and learning. Successful technology integration depends on various factors, such as teachers’ professional identity and value beliefs. While scholars have investigated the influential factors for technology integration in language teaching holistically, studies focusing on specific language skills remain limited. With domain‐specific theories and technology applications, pronunciation instruction merits particular attention. In this study, the authors investigated how pre‐service teachers’ professional identity and value beliefs shaped their intended use of technology for pronunciation instruction. Five hundred ninety‐seven pre‐service English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers from China participated in this study. Structural equation modeling analysis identified educator identity orientation, learner‐centered orientation, didactic‐pedagogical orientation, and utility value beliefs of technology as significant predictors of technology integration for pronunciation instruction. In addition, results showed that utility value beliefs mediated the associations between professional identity and participants’ intended use of technology. These findings highlight the crucial role of professional identity and value beliefs in pre‐service teachers’ intended use of technology for language instruction. Findings suggest that teacher educators and teacher training programs may prepare innovative educators by fostering broad identity constructs and enhancing pre‐service teachers’ utility value beliefs of technology.

Is epistemic injustice a worthy application to mental health nurse education?

This paper explores the philosophical concept of epistemic injustice and contends its significance and relevance to mental health nurse education and clinical practice. The term epistemic injustice may be unfamiliar to mental health nurses, yet the effects are readily visible in the dismissing, silencing, and doubting of service users' knowledge, testimony, and interpretation. Existing professional values and clinical standards lack depth and critical exploration pertaining to epistemology and associated ethical concerns. Despite central tenets of person-centred care and valuing the service users' voice, epistemic injustice continues to occur. Epistemic injustice cannot be summed up merely by asking nurses to listen to service users. This represents an oversimplification of epistemology, ignoring the complexities of social influence and knowledge exchanges. Epistemic injustice brings something new and innovative to the nursing curriculum and fits within the principles of heutagogy. It encourages deep reflexivity surrounding the ethical issues of power inequalities and intersectionality. Inclusion in mental health nursing education allows for the social and political powers of psychiatric diagnosis as a form of silencing and stigma to be examined. Practical application is made to mental health nursing education and practice with epistemological values and ethical reflexive prompts. These can be utilised by educators and lecturers for pre-registration mental health nurse education, post-registration, and continued professional development.

The Most In-Demand Soft Skills for QA Professionals in Brazil

Background: Software quality assurance (QA) is carried out in tandem with software development. Essentially, QA activities are conducted in hopes of assessing the extent to which a software product aligns with predefined requirements. Although QA includes highly technical tasks, much like software development, it remains largely a human-centered endeavor. Consequently, soft skills can play a significant role in contributing to the success of a project and product quality, as well as boosting the productivity of QA professionals. Aim: Our objective is to investigate: (i) the most sought-after soft skills for QA professionals, (ii) potential correlations among these in-demand soft skills, (iii) variations in soft skill requirements based on the seniority level of positions, and (iv) potential differences in soft skills expectations according to the size of the hiring companies. Our analysis is centered around organizations in Brazil. Method: We looked for soft skills in 2,164 job advertisements from Brazilian companies. Our data extraction process followed an inductive, data-driven approach that included both manual and automated steps. Results: approximately 91% of the job advertisements list at least one soft skill. We identified 32 soft skills in our study, with five soft skills standing out as the most sought-after among them: communication-related skills, planning, innovation, collaboration, and written communication. Notably, companies of various sizes consistently prioritize communication-related and planning skills, deeming them crucial for QA professionals. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the critical importance of five soft skills: communication-related skills, planning, innovation, collaboration, and written communication. The results of our study hold potential value for QA professionals in Brazil seeking to enhance their employability and provide insights to those tasked with staffing, curriculum design, and professional development.