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I don't think it's pretty common. I think they only really reach out to the references that you give them. They may reach out to verify working dates, but beyond that, I don't think that they will just take it upon themselves to reach out to former employers without your consent.
To clarify, I think an interviewer contacted someone from my prior company (because we have the person in common on linkedin) to ask about me before our call. I don't know the prior company exec personally or what she would say about me. But the tone of the interview shifted when the interviewer started pressing me about how I knew her, and my experience at this past company. When I was vague (because I don't know her), the interviewer returned to it 2 more times, pressing me. Is this is a thing - for a high paid, in demand position - to do extra proactive diligence? And are there limitations on what a former colleague can say about you? This person is high level and did not know me, but I could easily see her mixing me up or mistaking me as part of a mass layoff or saying I didn't meet revenue numbers - you just don't know. And I felt the change in tone. I'm not a conspiracy theorist at all btw!!
I don't think anyone has called my references this year, based on what they've told me. Granted, I haven't landed a role yet, but I've gotten to final round like 4x (sad, I know) and still, nobody has reached out to my references. So I'm really not so sure they do it all that much anymore.
Not sad! Just state of this world and also maybe references aren't used that much anymore