The setup
You’re 25-32. You work Mon-Fri at a Nashik company — maybe a CA firm in Sharanpur, an IT support role in Satpur, a sales job at a dealership. Pay’s OK (entry-level digital marketing packages). But the ceiling is visible.
Table of Contents
You’ve been reading that digital marketing pays entry-level digital marketing packages for people with 2-3 years experience, and you want in. You can’t quit. So the question is: does a weekend-only course actually work?
Short answer: yes, but only if you commit 10-15 hours per week including the weekend classes. Here’s the honest playbook.
What a weekend course really means in Nashik
Most weekend batches in Nashik run:
- Saturdays 4 PM – 8 PM (4 hours)
- Sundays 10 AM – 2 PM (4 hours)
- Plus 2-3 evening online sessions/week (1 hour each)
Total: 11-14 hours per week of structured learning. You can’t do digital marketing justice in less.
The 4-month weekend ACDM has the same 56 modules as the weekday version, just spread differently. The 8-month weekend PGDDM goes deeper and adds client internship.
Who weekend courses work for
You should do a weekend course if:
- Your weekdays are genuinely blocked (job, commute, family)
- You can dedicate ~3 hours every weekday evening to self-study
- Both Saturdays and Sundays are mostly free (not just one)
- You have a 4-month horizon for finishing ACDM (not 3 weeks of cramming)
You should NOT do a weekend course if:
- You’re already stretched — exhausted by Friday, need weekends to recover
- You can’t commit both weekend days consistently (missing 3-4 classes breaks you)
- Your goal is “general awareness” not skill+job change (there are free options for that)
The actual schedule at OnePlace Nashik
ACDM Weekend (4 months)
| Time | Saturday | Sunday | Evening (1 hr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1-4 | AI Foundations + Prompt Engg | SEO + Content | Tool practice (Tue, Thu) |
| Week 5-8 | Meta Ads Manager | Google Ads | Client brief sessions (Wed) |
| Week 9-12 | Social + Video + AI Creative | Analytics + CRO | Live project reviews (Tue, Thu) |
| Week 13-16 | Live client project 1 | Live client project 2 + Placement Prep | Mock interviews (Wed) |
You’ll commit: 4 + 4 + 3 = ~11 hours per week of active learning + 2-3 hours of self-practice.
PGDDM Weekend (8 months)
Same modules but each covered in 2× depth. Plus:
- 2-month client internship (done in your evenings/weekend flexibility)
- Capstone project for final certification
- Additional modules: E-commerce, Marketing Automation, Advanced Analytics, Team Management
Better for: Professionals aiming for senior roles (entry-level digital marketing packages) within 12-18 months of starting.
Honest outcomes from weekend batches
We track every weekend-batch alum for 12 months post-completion. Here’s the data from 2024-25 batches (n=48):
| Outcome | % |
|---|---|
| Got placed in a digital marketing role within 6 months of completion | 62% |
| Negotiated a 30%+ raise in existing role (by adding digital skills) | 18% |
| Started a side freelance practice (a meaningful amount+/month) | 11% |
| Opened own digital marketing consulting | 5% |
| Did not apply skills in career | 4% |
Average salary jump: a strong salaried package → a strong salaried package in 12 months (for those who switched roles).
Average freelance side income 12 months after: a meaningful monthly income.
Be warned: the 4% who “did not apply” usually failed to commit to post-class practice. Showing up for 4 hours on Saturday doesn’t teach you Meta Ads. Practicing Sunday evening does.
4 common mistakes working professionals make
1. “I’ll make up missed classes later”
You won’t. Miss 3+ classes in a row and you’ll lose the thread. Most drop-outs trace to this.
Fix: Protect weekend class time like you protect your job.
2. “I’ll start freelancing immediately”
Don’t. Months 1-4 are learning, not earning. Taking freelance work while learning means both suffer.
Fix: Start freelancing in Month 5-6, once you have a portfolio from the course projects.
3. “I don’t need to do the live project”
You do. The certificate is worth nothing without a portfolio. Live projects force you to ship real work.
Fix: Prioritize class projects even when work is busy. They’re what get you interviews.
4. “I’ll find a job without leaving my current one”
Rare. Most working professionals need a 2-3 week break between quitting and joining new role for interviews. Plan savings for this.
Fix: Save 3 months of expenses by Month 2 of the course.
Program Info + payment plan
| Program | Total | Installment 1 | Installment 2 | Installment 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACDM Weekend | a meaningful amount | a meaningful amount | a meaningful amount | a meaningful amount |
| PGDDM Weekend | a meaningful amount | a meaningful amount | a meaningful amount | a meaningful amount |
Installment 2 due Day 30, Installment 3 due Day 60. No interest charged.
Bank/UPI payment. No EMI or credit card program details. Full details and live payment demo during campus visit.
FAQ
Is a weekend course as good as weekday?
Same curriculum, same trainea meaningful amount same placement support. Only difference is schedule intensity. Both have 100% placement assistance for 6 months post-completion.
Can I switch from weekend to weekday batch mid-course?
Yes, space permitting. We don’t charge for switching — contact your batch lead. If you realize early that evenings + weekends are too much, switching to weekday-evening or intensive month is possible.
Do I need to quit my current job before starting?
No. We design the weekend batch assuming you’ll keep your current role for all 4 months. Most students quit only after landing their first DM role in Month 5-7.
Is OnePlace certification recognized by employers?
Nashik + Pune + Mumbai agency hiring managers know our name. We have 7,000+ alumni placed across India. For global roles, combine our certification with Google/Meta/HubSpot free certifications (you’ll earn these during the course anyway).
What’s the class size in weekend batch?
Maximum 30 students. We cap enrollment to protect quality. Most batches have 22-28 students.
Can I get placed in Mumbai/Pune from Nashik?
Yes. 40% of our 2025 placements were outside Nashik — mainly Pune and Mumbai agencies. Most Mumbai agencies hire Nashik students for remote roles or relocation-permitted roles.
Your next step
If you’re serious about a career shift without quitting, do three things this week:
- Book a weekend demo class — attend a real Saturday session before enrolling. You’ll see the format, meet current students, and know if you can commit.
- Talk to current weekend-batch students — we’ll connect you with 2-3 working professionals in the current batch.
- Visit the campus — Soham Complex, Patil Lane 3, College Road, Nashik.
WhatsApp +91 95296 22968 with “WEEKEND DEMO” to book a slot.
Next ACDM weekend batch: May 10, 2026. Seats filled: 19/30.
Free download: “Working Professional’s Digital Marketing Switch Plan” — 16-page PDF covering 4-month timeline, savings plan, portfolio template. WhatsApp “SWITCHPLAN” to +91 95296 22968.
