Sounds like we are on a similar course with Battlefront.
I could barely play the multiplayer at first. I'd run up to the action, get shot, and repeat until time ran out. Typically something like 4 or 5 kills and at least 20 deaths.
Same thing in fighter squadron, then I learned to lock on. After all the points bought the weapons, the game was much much more fun.
I can't do the death from above repeatedly, still though, I will roll with it and use it as a one off to clear out a space quickly, in particular in Turning Point or Supremacy or Drop Zone modes as they have defined areas that need cleared out from time to time. I typically will scan pulse them so I can see them behind walls, charge the bow, jump, locate target, and then release the bow's charge for the kill. Sometimes I do it too late and kill myself too in the explosion. Don't do that. If you don't have anything to shoot, hit your bumper again and you will put away the bowcaster with out shooting it and therefore don't need to wait for the card to recharge to use it again.
Some other general tips.
Fighter Squadron is the only mode of the game without special guns or star cards and what not, so it is perfect for the new player to level up in. It is also a mode that you don't use star cards in so you can't spend the charges on a charged star card. In other words, you can spend all your score points from Fighter Squadron on upgrades, whereas the other modes, you need to replenish your charges used at some point. Short version, play more fighter squadron when trying to level up.
In Fighter Squadron, the key for the Empire is Boba Fett's Slave I ship. When I get that, I turn the game into smear the queer. Hell I turn the game into that pretty much every game anyway. Those hero ships are worth points every shot you hit them with and points become credits which become unlocks, or more charges for your scan pulse. Anyway, smear the queer. If Slave I gets behind the Falcon, you can stay there the entire match and just kill the Falcon slowly and get all the points. Meanwhile the Falcon isn't killing your team and your team has a chance, in particular after you kill the Falcon and start to clear the skies as an unopposed Slave I ship.
The key to beating the Falcon is bringing down her shields. Your left bumper torpedo on the Slave does decent damage and recharges quickly. That is your main torpedo. The right bumper torpedo is key. This is an ion torpedo and like in the normal multiplayer, ion brings down shields. If you hit the Falcon with this after he brings up his shields, they will go back down and every hit damages the Falcon. Works great if you are about to get 'Falcon Punched' too. Falcon punching being where the Falcon rams you with his shields up destroying your Slave I ship while Solo yee-haws his way through to fight some more. Save that ion torpedo for when you need it, not for damage. If you are about to get Falcon Punched in the face, hit him with the ion torpedo and at least you will both die instead of just you. Note, you can't get Falcon Punched from the back unless you slow down or are a sloppy pilot. I only use the ion torpedo for damage when not engaged with the Falcon, or if engaged in combat with the Falcon, I need to see other teammates tailing the Falcon and trying to bring it down too. In that case I will assume one of my buddies will get his shield down and I want to do the damage with the ion torpedo while I am still alive.
Same logic for bringing down shields on normal ships. The empire can bring down their shields and if they don't the laser blasters are useless.
The hero pickups always spawn in just before the 9:00 mark on the clock. Not always the same place, but generally 4 places or so per map. You will learn them quickly. I can get the her ship close to half the times I play anymore. Don't even bother going for the one in the middle of the big ring on Jakku, let a teammate try and when they get it and then wreck, it will respawn (generally at just before the next even minute mark) in an easier place.
The cool down refresh for fighter squadron is a must. More lasers per minute. I think they stack too. When I have 4 or 5 of those as an A wing, I am nearly invincible and can bring down even the Slave I ship within 3-4 minutes or so.
As for multiplayer, look into your settings and adjust your controller sensitivity. It will help your aim. I think I am at 14% now. I think it started default at 25%. Big difference.
Never stand still. Even if you are sniping, do a box dance or something, move forward and backward and strafe side to side. Stand still targets will be sniped.
The bowcaster and jump pack are great for clearing out zones. You won't be hopping around like a fool, but you will be useful.
The bowcaster is weird. Don't bother trying to shoot anyone with it, just make them dance by shooting at their feet like you are everyones favorite semite, Yosemite Sam. The blast is explosive and the splash damage is what kills them (and me from time to time). Now you can aim at their feet assuming you aren't like me and can aim. Me, I just jump up and launch my bow at their feet and kill them and then hope my normal gun (typically the 3 burst gun EE3) can finish off what is remaining. Bowcaster is also great in hallways / corridors. The indoor parts of maps are fun with the bow and the scan pulse.
If you suck, bring your scan pulse and at least help your team. The scan pulse will show your enemies, but only if they are within 50 meters of you. Your minimap works on distance like that. If you have anyone in the center dot or the inner ring on the minimap, the scan pulse will outline them for your entire team to destroy them. Great for defending territory in modes like Turning Point, Supremecy, Drop Zone, etc.
Great tip, if you are defending a zone and have scan pulse, get in your zone under cover and wait for your minimap to light up. Enemies are in range then. Hit them with your scan pulse and they will all be lit up for your entire team to see. From there you can find who is closest and get them often before they even know you are there.
If you suck at shootouts, where you get into a shootout and always seem to lose, bring the explosive shot star card. It is a charged card so it goes in the middle and you need to spend your points score to buy more charges for it like any charge card. When activated, this will amp up your damage and turn the tide in your favor.
Often you are losing those shootouts because of your weapon and the distance. All guns have their role, and that role is generally determined by distance to target. One way around losing these shootouts is to bring out the shotgun which I have historically rolled with in shooter games. In this game though the shotgun (jawa blaster) sucks, beyond 20 meters it does zero actual damage. If you have the focus fire star card (charged card) that will take all that scatter shot and focus it into a long range weapon. Tons of fun to roll around with the jawa blaster and focus fire. When in close quarters, the shotgun rules. When at a distance, slap on the focus fire and your shotgun still rules at medium distances. You still have the other cards if needed (say perhaps the jump pack and bowcaster still for that attack if needed).
Get a trait card when you can. Those are permanent upgrades. Scout will keep you off the minimap. Bodyguard will help you take exposive damage and make homing shots not a concern at all unless you are injured. Bounty Hunter is how you hop around with unlimited power. Good luck with that. I have only seen one guy do that in online play myself, and still can't do it without getting the card refresh power up to enable it.
I find the minimap interesting. You can't trust it completely with so many people running scout trait, but you have to look at it. Easy to get into a false sense of security when nobody is on the minimap and then all of a sudden there is a guy or two right there shooting at you.
If you are new, you won't have the star cards so you will only have your gun. When spawning in, go down to hands, and then over to partners hand and select it if they have better cards than you.
All the guns are similar. I'd spend my early credits on star cards before guns generally. I'd upgrade the star cards I use before unlocking one's I don't use often.