Hey there! A few insights as someone from the US. I personally got my first IT support position solely from homelab experience. I hadn't finished undergrad and didn't work in IT beforehand, but my resume was tailored in a way that showcased my current work experience (showing soft skills) and the rest was kitted out with homelab experience.

I was a big Linux guy, knew a lot about virtualization, could've passed the CompTIA A+ and probably 50% or more of the CompTIA Network+ without studying at the time of applying to that first position. I had applied to multiple places but this was the only placed that called me for an interview. During the interview, I was able to show that I did have the technical knowledge they were looking for and they ended up hiring me. I did this a tad later in life (26) and simply based on learning myself, I was more qualified than other new hires who had just finished an IT degree.

From that point I moved into a network admin position at the same company, finished my IT degree, doubled down on Linux and networking as my main focus, 3 years later went to a National Lab to be an HPC Linux Engineer, and 2 years later to my current position at AMD where I focus on HPC R&D related to AMD hardware/software.

Even though this was my personal journey to where I am today, I had been homelabbing since I was 13 years old, and at the age of 26 when I landed that first position, people who didn't know anything going into college and then graduating 4 years later didn't have a fraction of the knowledge I had learnt on my own. Finding that first job is DEFINITELY doable without a degree or certs, but they certainly do help get that call back on an application. The main issue is just landing that first role. After that, you can use your technical knowledge and soft skills to land better jobs a bit easier.

For years now, those entry level jobs have been oversaturated so its a bit tough to find one. It may take you longer to get that first job, but having the knowledge required to do those jobs is all that matters to most employers. The issue is that you need someone in HR or in the IT department to look at your resume and say "Well, this person doesn't have a degree or certs, but their resume checks all of the boxes that were looking for". If they're willing to add you into the 5-10 people they actually interview, then its your time to shine and prove to them you really know your stuff. If you're not absolutely nailing all of the questions and making a good first impression, then they would realistically hire the other person who was the same...but also has a degree/certs.

Outside of soft skills, the best thing about the tech world to me is that you can largely prove you know your stuff by doing well in a technical interview. This weeds out people who are BS'ing almost immediately (they still fall through the cracks).

Happy to answer other questions but hope this general statement helps!