I should've been more specific, I have ~6 years of linux experience as a hobbyist but most employers will not accept a hobby as a certified profession. I have managed game servers/IRC/email/apache/nginx/etc I know perl and use perl to automate some things, etc I know what I'm doing but I've yet to even get an offer from any employers
First, stop using the word hobby! If it's an hobby it's an hobby, if it's a profession you have to be professional!
Second, the way you are describing your experience doesn't really help you. It's too vague. Describe instead the problems you have faced. How did you solve them? What kind of value were you able to add to the entire system? (more stable, faster,...)
Hiring someone is an investment and a commitment. To pass the investment part you have to prove your skills, your ability to solve problems, your personal motivation and your growth potentiality.
The commitment part is more subtle and complicated. It mostly applies to the employer and it would take this conversation too far away. To keep it simple I can tell you that is very very important to get information about the company you are interviewing for. Try to think which challenges they may be facing and ask about these challenges during the interview. Think to possible solutions to these problems and discuss that with them. Don't worry about being right, nobody would expect you to know exactly the problem a company is facing but it would show vision and initiative on your side.
Last suggestion, you say "I know what I'm doing but...". No you don't, you would have a job already. Keep pushing. Do not fall in the stupid trap of thinking that the world is against you. I don't know you but I've been around the world many times. I can tell you that you can make it. Don't give up and keep working on your skills!
