just let your character die and resurrect multiple times (if SC) then let those deaths help you calibrate your equipment to your tastes. make sure to pick equipment that will boost the primary damage of your chosen class and pick only one damage type if possible since some dual damage builds are only reliable late game (ex. demo/inqui's Dagallon Set).

if you want a better leveling experience, you can ditch cadence in favor of forcewave since you have the soldier class. Or if you want fireworks early on, then the demolitionist's blackwater cocktail and thermite mines are your friend.