<p>In the recent decade, with the increasing number of PhD graduates, the Chinese academic labor market has become highly competitive. To support PhD graduates to navigate the Chinese academic labor market, this study investigates how social capital shapes the academic job search of domestic PhDs and PhD returnees in the social sciences. Drawing on Claridge’s (2020) multi-dimensional, multi-level framework, we conducted in-depth interviews with 11 domestic PhDs and 16 PhD returnees to analyze their social capital across structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions and at micro, meso, and macro levels. The findings reveal marked differences between the two cohorts. Domestic PhDs benefit from deep-rooted local networks, particularly advisor-related ties (<i>shimen</i>), institutional prestige, and informal job-search channels. In contrast, PhD returnees face disadvantages due to the devaluation of overseas networks and limited access to domestic academia. This study also uncovers a dualistic evaluation system that hierarchically stratifies social capital based on university rankings, privileging domestic universities over those of overseas. Underpinning these dynamics is China’s <i>renqing</i> society (a moral system of intimacy, reciprocity and obligation), where <i>guanxi</i> (personal connections embedded in trust, exchange, and hierarchy) remains central to academic recruitment. Together, these findings shed light on the uneven value of domestic and international networks and offer practical implications for navigating China’s guanxi-driven academic hiring culture.</p>