What makes combat much more doable is engineering. I would recommend you start getting some engineers (Lei Cheung, The Dweller and Selene Jean, Professor Palin and Hera Tani especially) to grade five. Whilst doing that, also go to High Resource Sites and follow Security around and shoot whatever Security shoots. Use any ship you want. Security should get most of the target aggro. Then you get credits, but more importantly tons of data materials for engineering.
What you want to do at the Rez sites is practice range control and situational awareness.
Range control is trying to keep a certain constant distance from a target. This is done mostly via deceleration and watching when the target boosts. Boost a second or so after they boost. It's key that you focus on the three little orange triangles surrounding the target, especially the solid one. That's where the nose is heading. Try to make your nose point in the same direction.
Situational awareness is about getting to know your HUD really well. Make sure there are no asteroids nearby to crash into. Look at the radar.....anything flashing wants to eat you. Practice using chaff to minimize damage and heatsinks to escape.
Since NPCs spam missiles once your shields are down, put in Point Defense on a top positioned Utility slot. I would also have a gimballed multicannon with the corrosive experimental because it is a huge damage buff once the shields of the target goes down. Even a grade 1 engineered mc with corrosive is just fine.
Most of all, have fun your way.
o7
