First I check the teams to see if I can switch the UK/US side simply because I like their weapons and optics better (especially on the Russian maps). Alternatively, I check if one team is winning handily and try to switch to that side. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind being on the losing side but if my team is being outclassed, it's no fun playing. I'm not good enough to turn the tide of the war. In fact, I find I have a quite high "beta" (for those of you familiar with the capital asset pricing model), i.e.
My performance = Base performance + Beta x (My team - Enemy team).
As I have a Beta greater than 1, my performance is boosted/magnified by my team's performance. If my team is great, I'll be among the top 10. If my team sucks, I'll suck even more and be among the bottom 5. I guess that's the sign of a volatile newbie player, but whatever. (Off topic: What's your Beta? If you're consistently good/bad regardless of your team's performance, you'll have a low Beta).
Back to the question, apart from the team switching covered above, I:
1. Check which squads have rally points
2. Check which squads are named TACTEAM, TACTICS, TEAMPLAY or ENG VOIP (definitely not the numerous GER VOIP that seem to be everywhere!)

3. Check which squads are grouped closely together
4. Join the squad that meets the criteria above.
5. Ask the squad leader which kit I should play. If given a choice, I go Rifleman Optics on the US/UK side alternatively try to get the SAW kit.
6. Join up with my squad and make sure we stay together.
That's it. Sorry for the long post. Fully agree with the NCO comments earlier, BTW, I find myself doing that quite a lot lately.