3 common interview questions job seekers struggle with the most, and how you should answer them

Some of the trickiest job interview questions are surprisingly common and straightforward.

But while they may seem simple on the surface, how you answer them is actually quite telling and could reveal more about you than you may have hoped.

Your best defense against tough questions is to come to your interview prepared to tackle them head-on, says Vicky Oliver, the author of "301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions " and "301 Smart Answers to Tough Etiquette Questions " and a career expert who has coached hundreds of job candidates.

"You want to be authentic, but you also need to sell yourself," she tells Business Insider. "You want to be you on your best day. Think about the hardballs someone may ask you about your particular job history and what your answers will be."

Here are three common interview questions Oliver says job seekers struggle with the most, and how you should answer them: