When I interview entry-level IT operations candidates, discussion of home labs puts the candidate at the top of the list, all other things being equal. It's hands-on experience and demonstrates an interest in tinkering... and will show that the candidate knows how to solve problems (including how to Google problems).
Only once has that strategy failed me, and it wasn't even a terrible fit - just a bad one.
When I interview entry-level IT operations candidates, discussion of home labs puts the candidate at the top of the list, all other things being equal. It's hands-on experience and demonstrates an interest in tinkering... and will show that the candidate knows how to solve problems (including how to Google problems).
Only once has that strategy failed me, and it wasn't even a terrible fit - just a bad one.