As someone who just started:

The game is like mine craft + dayz. If you like either you'll like rust.

Server choice makes a lot of difference. Look for something that just got cleared within a few days or you'll have a hard time catching up.

First you need to make a small base with a toolbox. Forge, repair table, sleeping bed, and research bench. Try to pick a place with good stone/tree/cloth resources near by and away from people.

Early on you need to go on smaller rad town runs to be able to get guns and stuff. Don't use them, learn them so you can make more. Learning is always better than hording as you'll likely get raided early on. To do this make a sleeping bag or 5 kinda close to the town and just run in with nothing after dying. There's no need to take a gun/bow early on as those resources will lost to a guy with metal armour and an AK.

What your looking for:

Guns

Ammo

Armour

Med kits

Blueprint fragments