New hunter ranger lvl 25 need help?

Im new to NW on ps4 and i decided to be a hunter ranger but im a little confused. First let me give you an idea of what my at wills and encounters are:

At wills: Split shot & Aimed shot I have changed rapid shot for split shot for range dps and binded aim shot to L2

This particular build makes the feel of my offense extremely slow for some reason even as a at will. Other option was rapid shot which is faster but weaker.

For my encounters i have the following: Hindering shot, which i use primarily as a ranged attack, thorn ward for melee attacks and steel breeze another ranged attack.

Gear:

• Head: Hood of precise aim

• Armor: +2 Restoring hide armor

• Arms: Renewing bracers

• Main Hand: Longbow of the Dark Woods

• Melee: Restoring Blades

• Feet: Parrying Boots

• Neck: Clock of the Plaguetower

• Right Ring: Ring of Warding

• Left Ring: Smiting Ring

• Waist: Reviving Belt

• Shirt

• Trousers/Pants

My question here is what can i do to increase melee dps and speed. I run dungeons and im almost always last on the leaderboards and squirmishs too.

Also how do i improve running pace? Ive seen gwf out dps'ing me and running to the next target fast. I just want to be able to do as much melee damage as them but also do ranged attacks.

Last question is. How do i do professions? There isnt a whole lot of info i find out on this game thats relevant to newcomers so any good advice would be nice.