swiftmerchant's journey

I was laid off from a large Fortune 500 company where I had worked for seven years across three different roles. Overall, my experiences were positive, and I consistently received ‘Exceeds Expectations’ in my performance reviews during my first two roles. However, in my last position as a Director, I encountered challenges with the new management team, which led to a series of negative evaluations and ultimately being placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). I managed to survive the PIP by successfully flipping a major client account, which earned me some praise, but unfortunately, I was still laid off in the subsequent round of cuts. Now, I'm contemplating my chances of being rehired by the company. I genuinely admire what they are doing and would love to return. From what I gather, opinions seem mixed on my likelihood of getting another position there. Some believe that if I still have a good network within the company, I might have a shot, especially if someone can vouch for me. Others think that the PIP and the way I left could significantly hinder my chances, suggesting that I might be on a 'do not re-hire' list. It’s tough to gauge what my next steps should be. Should I focus on leveraging my connections or look for opportunities elsewhere? I’m feeling uncertain about the best approach.