Hello everyone! First-time job seeker here with a dilemma I've never encountered before.

If you apply for a job as a full-time employee, have you ever been offered a part-time or contractor position instead, especially if remote work was involved?

After applying to an online education start-up in China, I was offered a position as a Director of Marketing, Admissions, and Communications. The start-up is part of a larger, US-managed non-profit operating five in-person international schools in China and one in the UAE.

In a world without the pandemic, someone with my role would typically be offered a full-time contract with benefits and relocated to China within several months. Since China maintains a strict border policy, the company informed me from the beginning that I could work remotely in the position from the US and transfer over to China when policies changed (which I realized would not be for a while).

It was always my understanding that whether the role was remote or not, I was being considered for a full-time position with the company. Nobody informed me or implied that working remotely would change the type of contract offered. I didn't even think of it as a possibility, since I would be working for a virtual school anyways.

To my surprise, the company informed me they want to hire me as a part-time contractor rather than as a full-time employee. This first contract would be renegotiated into a full-time employment contract when I could relocate to China.

I wouldn't mind working as a remote, part-time contractor in the short term, but China's borders may not open until Spring 2022-- a year and a half from now. I'm planning to meet with the company about the contract next week, but I'm honestly at a loss for how to approach this with them or even negotiate it.

Several family members and friends have suggested that I try to renegotiate the terms of the contract to be a full-time employee at the company's UAE offices. While I'd be open to that alternative, I'm not sure if that's feasible or appropriate for a new hire to suggest.

Aside from declining the offer, how would you ladies recommend navigating this situation? How would you approach them honestly and respectfully about the issue? As a new hire, would it even be possible or appropriate to try to renegotiate the offer into a full time employee position but at a different office location (considering that's what they're eventually planning to offer me anyway?)

Any advice or input on this is appreciated! I will say that aside from this, I've heard and had absolutely wonderful experiences with this company. I've also been told by other employees that my department heads (who I'd be negotiating with) are some of the best leaders and bosses in the company.