Abigail Picken
Kelso,Scottish Borders
Summary
A highly skilled professional with expertise in presentation skills, team leadership, and excellent communication. Demonstrates exceptional public speaking abilities and decision-making prowess. Consistently exceeds targets and delivers high-quality work ahead of schedule. Adept at picking up new tools to improve workflows, aiming to leverage these competencies for continued career growth and success.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Calf Rearer
Kennetsidehead
Kennetsideheads, Kelso
2024.09 - 2026.02
- Assisted in feeding up to 80 calves daily with correct conditioned milk.
- Provided necessary healthcare, including treatments and vaccinations.
- Communicated effectively within a diverse team, overcoming language barriers.
- Mucked out and prepared bedding for calves.
- Prepared sale calves for departure from the holding place.
- Ensured correct identification tags were applied to all calves.
- Aided the herd manager with artificial insemination and genomic processes as an assistant.
- Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
- Showed effective biosecurity measures when housing infectious cattle
- Cleaned work areas and equipment to maintain faultless hygiene standards using appropriate disinfectant
Yard-worker
Nenthorn Equestrian Centre
Nenthorn, Kelso
2023.10 - 2026.02
- Assisted in exercising various horses through hacking, schooling, show jumping, and cross country.
- Educated junior staff and clients about safe interactions with horses.
- Provided daily care for horses, including feeding, watering, mucking out, and bedding.
Jen Morris Coaching
Aberdeen
2026.01 - 2026.03
- Handling young, fit horses.
- Mucking out and bedding to a high standard of care.
- Being able to work competently by myself
- Job description:
Work Experience
Cheviot Vets
Kelso
2025.05 - 2025.05
- Assisted established team of veterinary surgeons and nurses in daily operations.
- Supported various surgical procedures including foreign body removal, spays, castrations, dentals, and eye removals.
- Monitored patients' vital signs under supervision of veterinary professionals.
- Maintained high hygiene standards during working hours in a busy practice environment.
- Collaborated with registered veterinary nurses in pre- and post-operative processes to prepare patients for surgery.
- Carried out day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Consistently arrived at work on time and ready to start immediately.
Yard-worker
Sandy Thomson Racing
Duns
2023.08 - 2024.11
- Handling and leading of young working fit racehorses
- Attending to a high standard of mucking out, feeding, bedding and exercising
- Working alongside a team in a fast-paced busy working environment
- Type of employment: Part-time
Waitress
The Cobbles Inn Free-House and Dining
Kelso
2021.10 - 2024.09
- Communicating and serving customers, maintaining a high standard of hospitality to meet all the customers' needs and wants.
- Working in a fast-paced environment alongside a team
- Working on the bar serving customers
- Type of employment: Part-time
Animal Nurse Assistant
Robert Young Vets
Kelso
2021.10 - 2023.06
- Assisted the veterinary surgeon during consultations with various species, including domestic and exotic animals.
- Supported animal handling by weighing and holding pets while documenting health information.
- Maintained confidentiality of patient and owner information in accordance with GDPR guidelines.
- Helped monitor medication stock levels within the practice and prepared medications under supervision.
- Ensured smooth operation of reception duties, providing excellent customer service to clients before and after consultations.
- Scheduled operations and appointments, both in-person and via telephone.
- Demonstrated biosecurity techniques
- Accepted payments and wrote receipts, answered calls and performed other reception duties.
Lambing Assistant
GateShaw Farm
Kelso
2023.03 - 2023.04
- Assisting in the birth of many different and difficult births of lambs, including some where the lamb was in the incorrect position and needed to be manually repositioned before birth.
- Rounding up sheep from inside sheds to outdoor fields.
- Feeding, watering, bedding, and making sure the lambs are healthy and rung before leaving the shed.
- Type of employment: Work experience
Lambing assistant
LochSide Farm
Yetholm, Scottish Borders
2022.03 - 2022.04
- Independently assisting in the birth of lambs
- Demonstrated my ability to look after orphaned lambs
- Providing medication to ill sheep
- Type of employment: Work experience
Robert Young Vets
Kelso
2020.08 - 2021.10
- My hard work was recognised and rewarded with a job opportunity in this practice in October 2021 which is previously mentioned in my CV.
- Type of employment: Work experience
Work Experience
Galedin Vets
Kelso
2024.06 - 2024.06
- Assisted veterinarians in preparing for surgeries and conducting x-rays.
- Supported theatre operations by observing various procedures.
- Aided in maintaining a sterile environment during surgical preparations.
- Demonstrated a professional manner
Education
KELSO HIGH SCHOOL
Kelso, Scottish Borders 2018.01 - 2024.01
Higher National Certificate - Animal Care
Borders College
Galashiels 2024.01 - 2025.01
Undergraduate Veterinary Nursing BSc (Hons) -
Scottish Rural Agricultural College Aberdeen Campus
Aberdeen 2025.01 - 2029.01
Skills
- Presentation skills
- Team Leadership
- Excellent communication
- Public Speaking
- Decision Making
- Consistently exceed targets and deliver high-quality work ahead of schedule
- Pick up new tools and apply them to improve workflows
Certification
- Full Scottish Driving License
- Scottish Hockey Coaching Award
- Scottish Hockey Umpiring Award
Accomplishments
- Head Team 2023-2024 This role was at Kelso High School; this role included public speaking to large groups of young people, which included stepping out of my comfort zone.
- Organising and attended many successful events, acting in a professional manner and representing my school.
- Vice Caption 2023-2024 The role of ‘Vice Caption’ was to my hockey team at my previous education at my high school ‘Kelso High School’
- Demonstrated team leading skills
- Motivating and leading my team over the period of hockey season.
- Showing commitment over a period
- Organising events and training sessions
Custom
- The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland Science Summer School During summer 2023, between 10/07/2023 to 14/07/2023 I voluntarily attended the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland Science Summer School in Aviemore, Scotland.
- This course helped me expand my knowledge of the maintenance and wellbeing of animals in captivity.
- This shows my determination and commitment towards animals, as I had to travel from the borders to do this.
- Presenting a talk regarding a chosen species at the centre to fellow peers, staff and the public
- Taking part in an extensive rehabilitation project designed for the students
- Vice-President 2025 - current I am currently vice-captain of the SRUC ‘Scottish Rural Agricultural College’ Aberdeen campus Equestrian Society.
- Hosting and attending BUCS competitions, representing SRUC and our society.
- Organising and attending society events
- Making digital website posts
- Balancing work-life balance competently
Affiliations
- Horse Riding
- Hockey
- Running
- Reading
Timeline
Jen Morris Coaching
2026.01 - 2026.03
Work Experience
Cheviot Vets
2025.05 - 2025.05
Undergraduate Veterinary Nursing BSc (Hons) -
Scottish Rural Agricultural College Aberdeen Campus
2025.01 - 2029.01
Calf Rearer
Kennetsidehead
2024.09 - 2026.02
Work Experience
Galedin Vets
2024.06 - 2024.06
Higher National Certificate - Animal Care
Borders College
2024.01 - 2025.01
Yard-worker
Nenthorn Equestrian Centre
2023.10 - 2026.02
Yard-worker
Sandy Thomson Racing
2023.08 - 2024.11
Lambing Assistant
GateShaw Farm
2023.03 - 2023.04
Lambing assistant
LochSide Farm
2022.03 - 2022.04
Waitress
The Cobbles Inn Free-House and Dining
2021.10 - 2024.09
Animal Nurse Assistant
Robert Young Vets
2021.10 - 2023.06
Robert Young Vets
2020.08 - 2021.10
KELSO HIGH SCHOOL
2018.01 - 2024.01