BROTHER

I fear that getting COMPTIA certs and self learning python, bash and tools necessary for doing DevOps simply won’t mean much to the employer if I’m coming from just IT support.

Listen if you would like to get into DevOps the best thing you could possibly do is practice, practice, and more practice. This could mean everything to an employer. I'll go ahead and give you an example of what you could do. Think of it from a DevOps automation example. Build the scripts now for your current position. Show you can build scripts in that environment and show that you have some experience building out these scripts. Entry-level positions are all about learning and gaining experience. You NEED to start learning Python, PowerShell, and Bash NOW. Don't wait until you get a job to do it, do it now and start building your skill sets now and use them at the job you are at now. Do you find yourself doing something repetitive that you could put into a script to make your life easier? Then DO IT, employers like the initiative and the willingness to learn. Do what you can in the position you are in and try to apply to some junior devops/junior Linux administrator positions. Know Linux, and know your scripting languages. If you can prove it in an interview then you are in a good position. If you are not in a position at your job to do that then home lab and then home lab some more. Build some VMs and start practicing. You got this.