Trade Scenario: When do you recruit your first few survivors?

[A boy named Sue]

I am nearing the end of my first year and I have nowhere near enough fuel production to be able to sell much of anything. Cost of 50 fuel and no bug meat breakthrough and rough. Being stuck with 3 survivors is concerning.

I did start with 60k credits but that will only last me a year. So couple of questions/request for tips:

1. Is this normal? What year do you guys typically recruit your first 2-3 survivors?
2. If I recruit a survivor and then let them leave, can I recruit them again with the same skill progress? Or is it RNG with each posting?
3.Any general tips for the first couple of years?

[A boy named Sue]

Just tried turning off crafting and right clicking on barrels and presses and the "not assigned" message didn't show up either - was dumb of me not to check that, derp.